But, after all, he reassured himself, he was under no obligation to interfere with what was clearly none of his business.

He could not see that the matter in any possible way touched his employer's interests.

And, he reflected, he had already tried the useless experiment of meddling with other people's affairs, and he did not care to repeat the experience.
That evening Patches asked Phil's permission to go to Prescott the next day.

It would be the first time that he had been to town since his coming to the ranch and the foreman readily granted his request.
A few minutes later as Phil passed through the kitchen, Mrs.Baldwin remarked, "I wonder what Patches is feeling so gay about.

Ever since he got home from the rodeo he's been singin' an' whistlin' an' grinnin' to himself all the time.