"You've got lots of friends, honey," she said simply, "and I've left all of mine so far behind me they might as well be dead, as far as ever seeing 'em again is concerned; so it's like finding gold to find a woman friend away out here.

I ain't casting no reflections on Jerry, mind," she hastened to warn them, blinking the tears away and leaving the twinkle in full possession; "but good as he is, and satisfying as his company is, he ain't a woman.

And, my dear, a woman does get awful hungry sometimes for woman-talk!" [Illustration: Mrs.Jerry took the senorita's hand and smiled up at her.] "Santa Maria! that must be true.

She shall come and let my mother be her friend also.

I will send a carriage, or if she can ride--ask the big senor if he has no horses!" Jack it was who took up right willingly the burden of translation, for the pure pleasure of repeating the senorita's words and doing her a service; and Dade dropped back beside the don, where he thought he belonged, and stayed there.
"Wall, I ain't got any horses, but I got two of the derndest mules you ever seen, mister.