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 "Oh, Amandy!" said Billy.

She paid no attention.

"Oh, Amandy, Amandy!" he repeated.

"Miss Higginson, if you please," said Amandy coldly.

"Miss Higginson, then," implored Billy, leading his horse after her.

"Nor 'Miss Higginson' don't work neither," said Amandy triumphantly.

And then Billy stayed in his tracks and said no more. When he had recovered himself a little Amandy was entering her "Paw's" house without a look in his direction.

"I'm fair desprit," said Billy Prentiss.

He was then aware of a horseman coming up behind him at an easy walk. As he mounted they met face to face, and though Billy did not know who the man was, he felt that he was strangely like Old Bill Higginson.

"Mout be his brother," said the cowboy. "And I dew believe he hez a brother the other side o' Double Mounting."

"Good-day," said the stranger. He looked at Billy rather too curiously, and Billy was in no mood to be looked at.