nearly
midnight
On reaching Las Palomas , we found Frank Nancrede and Add Tully , the latter being also a trail foreman , at the ranch . They were wintering in San Antonio , and were spending a few weeks at our ranch , incidentally on the lookout for several hundred saddle horses for trail purposes the coming spring . We had no horses for sale , but nevertheless Uncle Lance had prevailed on them to make Las Palomas headquarters during their stay in the country . The first night at the ranch , Miss Jean and I talked until nearly midnight . There had been so many happenings during my absence that it required a whole evening to tell them all . From the naming of Anita 's baby to the rivalry between John and Theodore for the favor of Frances Vaux , all the latest social news of the countryside was discussed . Miss Jean had attended the dance at Shepherd 's during the fall , and had heard it whispered that Oxenford and Esther were anything but happy .