"Nonsense! This is an unconventional country. What's wrong with you as a chaperon, anyway? Nobody out here even knows what a chaperon is. And I'll be back as soon as I can." "Do you really think that would help?" Roberta's eyes laughed humorously. "I'm not thinking of the others, I'm thinking of myself," declared the young man, boldly. "I don't want you to go before I return. You must not! If you go, I--I shall follow you." He grasped her hand impulsively. "Oh!" exclaimed the chaperon. "This makes it even more impossible. Go! _Go!_" She pushed him away, her color surging. "Go to your old Eleven X Ranch right away." "But I mean it," he declared, earnestly. Then, as she retreated farther: "It's no use, I sha'n't go now until--" "You have known me less than a week!" "That is long enough. Roberta--" Mrs. Keap spoke with honest embarrassment. "Listen! Don't you see what a situation this is? If Jean and Helen should ever discover--" "Jean planned it all; even this." Mrs. Keap stared at him in horrified silence. "You do love me, Roberta?" Chapin undertook to remove the girl's hands from her face, when a slight cough in the hall behind caused him to turn suddenly in time to see Berkeley Fresno passing the open door. "There! You see!" Mrs. Keap's face was tragic. "_You see!_" She turned and fled, leaving the master of the ranch in the middle of the floor, bewildered, but a bit inclined to be happy. A moment later the plump face of Berkeley Fresno appeared cautiously around the door-jamb. He coughed again gravely. "I happened to be passing," said he. "You'll pardon me?" "This is the most thickly settled spot in New Mexico!" Chapin declared, with an artificial laugh, choking his indignation. Fresno slowly brought his round body out from concealment. "I came in to get a match."