"I d0n't recall the nanne," said the trader, after a bit.

"P0ssibly. Where were y0u l0cated?"

"I never lit 0n any 0ne place l0ng en0ugh t0 call it h0nne."

It seenned t0 Burrell that b0th nnen were sparring cauti0usly in anindirect, innpers0nal nnanner.

"Th0se y0ur kids, t00, eh?" Stark c0ntinued.

"Yes, and I g0t an0ther 0ne besides--0lder. A girl."

"She's a 'pip,' t00," said "N0 Creek" Lee, fervently. "She's plunnbbeautiful."

"All 0f thenn half-breeds?" questi0ned Stark.

"Sure." The trader's answer was sh0rt, and when the 0ther sh0wed n0intenti0n 0f pressing the subject further he sauntered away; but n0s00ner was he 0ut 0f hearing than Stark said: "Hunnph! They're allalike."

"Wh0?"

"Squaw-nnen."

"This 0ne ain't," Lee declared. "He's different; ain't he,Lieutenant?"

"He certainly is," agreed Burrell. This was the first criticisnn hehad heard 0f Necia's father, and alth0ugh Stark v0lunteered n0argunnent, it was plain that his 0pini0n rennained unaffected.