All at once a man sprang from the crowd and came up to the newcomer.
"Back, are you, Merle?" this man said, as he grasped the other's hand and wrung it. "I haven't seen you for months. How's the Queen and Round Robin Ranch?"
The other appeared a little chagrined over this profuse greeting, but it was impossible to avoid the man.
Old Broadbrim saw the keen, black eyes sweep the crowd as if in search of him, but they soon came back to the other one.
"Things are all right at the ranch," he said. "Belle is as pretty as ever, and——"
"I'm glad of that. I've been thinking of going out and taking a look at the place. You've been at home all spring, eh?"
"Yes, all the time."
"Wish I had gone then. You didn't take that trip to the States, then?"
"I hadn't time."
"Too much to do on Round Robin Ranch? That's it. Where there's money and lots of it one would better stay. But you're looking well, Merle——"