Rowdy of the Cross L.........................................................................................................................................1

B. M. Bower .............................................................................................................................................1

CHAPTER 1. Lost in a Blizzard. .............................................................................................................1

CHAPTER 2. Miss Conroy Refuses Shelter...........................................................................................5

CHAPTER 3. Rowdy Hires a New Boss. ................................................................................................9

CHAPTER 4. Pink as "Chappyrone." ....................................................................................................13

CHAPTER 5. At Home at Cross L........................................................................................................16

CHAPTER 6. A Shot From the Dark....................................................................................................17

CHAPTER 7. Rowdy in a Tough Place. ................................................................................................22

CHAPTER 8. Pink in a Threatening Mood...........................................................................................25

CHAPTER 9. Moving the Herd. ............................................................................................................27

CHAPTER 10. Harry Conroy at Home.................................................................................................29

CHAPTER 11. Rowdy Promoted..........................................................................................................32

CHAPTER 12. "You Can Tell Jessie." ..................................................................................................35

CHAPTER 13. Rowdy Finds Happiness...............................................................................................39

"Rowdy" Vaughanhe had been christened Rowland by his mother, and rechristened Rowdy by his cowboy

friends, who are prone to treat with much irreverence the names bestowed by motherswas not happy. He

stood in the stirrups and shook off the thick layer of snow which clung, damp and closepacked, to his coat.

The dull yellow folds were full of it; his gray hat, pulled low over his purple ears, was heaped with it. He

reached up a gloved hand and scraped away as much as he could, wrapped the longskirted, "sourdough"

coat around his numbed legs, then settled into the saddle with a shiver of distaste at the plight he was in, and

Dixie, standing kneedeep in a drift, shook himself much after the manner of his master; perhaps he, also,

wished himself back at the Horseshoe Bar. He turned his head to look back, blinking at the snow which beat

insistently in his eyes; he could not hold them open long enough to see anything, however, so he twitched his

"It's up to you, old boy," Rowdy told him resignedly. "I'm plumb lost; I never was in this damn country

before, anyhowand I sure wish I wasn't here now. If you've any idea where we're at, I'm dead willing to

have you pilot the layout. Never mind Chub; locating his feed when it's stuck under his nose is his limit."

Chub lifted an ear dispiritedly when his name was spoken; but, as was usually the case, he heard no good of

himself, and dropped his head again. No one took heed of him; no one ever did. His part was to carry

Vaughan's bed, and to follow unquestionably where Vaughan and Dixie might lead. He was cold and tired

and hungry, but his faith in his master was strong; the responsibility of finding shelter before the dark came

Vaughan pressed his chilled knees against Dixie's ribs, but the hand upon the reins was carefully

noncommittal; so that Dixie, having no suggestion of his master's wish, ventured to indulge his own. He

turned tail squarely to the storm and went straight ahead. Vaughan put his hands deep into his pockets,

snuggled farther down into the sheepskin collar of his coat, and rode passive, enduring.

They brought up against a wire fence, and Vaughan, rousing from his apathy, tried to peer through the white,

shifting wall of the storm. "You're a swell guidenot," he remarked to the horse. "Now you, you hike down

this fence till you locate a gate or a corner, or any darned thing; and I don't give a cuss if the snow does get in

Dixie, sneezing the snow from his nostrils, turned obediently; Chub, his feet dragging wearily in the snow,

trailed patiently behind. Half an hour of this, and it seemed as if it would go on forever.

Through the swirl Vaughan could see the posts standing forlornly in the snow, with sixteen feet of blizzard

between; at no time could he distinguish more than two or three at once, and there were long minutes when

Then Dixie lifted his head and gazed questioningly before him, his ears pointed forwardsentient,

strainedand whinnied shrill challenge. He hurried his steps, dragging Chub out of the beginnings of a

Out beyond the dim, wavering outline of the farthest post came answer to the challenge. A mysterious, vague

shape grew impalpably upon the strained vision; a horse sneezed, then nickered eagerly. Vaughan drew up

The shape hesitated, as though taken aback by the greeting, and there was no answer. Vaughan, puzzled, rode

"Whowho is it?" The voice sounded perturbed; and it was, moreover, the voice of a woman.

Vaughan pulled up short and swore into his collar. Women are not, as a rule, to be met out on the blank

prairie in a blizzard. His voice, when he spoke again, was not ironical, as it had been; it was placating.

"I beg your pardon," he said. "I thought it was a man. I'm looking for the Cross L; you don't happen to know

"NoI don't," she declared dismally. "I don't know where any place is. I'm teaching school in this

neighborhoodor in some other. I was going to spend Sunday with a friend, but this storm came up, and

"Same here," said Rowdy pleasantly, as though being lost was a matter for congratulation.

"So was I, so we're even there. We'll have to pool our chances, I guess. Any gate down that wayor haven't

"I followed it for miles and milesit seemed. It must be some big field of the Cross L; but they have so very

"And you couldn't give a rough guess at how far it is to the Cross L?"insinuatingly.

He could vaguely see her shake of head. "Ordinarily it should be about six miles beyond Rodway's, where I

board. But I haven't the haziest idea of where Rodway's place is, you see; so that won't help you much. I'm all

"Well, if you came up the fence, there's no use going back that way; and there's sure nothing made by going

"We might as well, I suppose," she assented; and Rowdy turned and rode by her side, grateful for the

plurality of the pronoun which tacitly included him in her wanderings, and meditating many things. For one,

he wondered if she were as nice a girl as her voice sounded. He could not see much of her face, because it

was muffled in a white silk scarf. Only her eyes showed, and they were dark and bright.

When he awoke to the fact that the wind, grown colder, beat upon her cruelly, he dropped behind a pace and

took the windy side, that he might shield her with his body. But if she observed the action she gave no sign;

her face was turned from him and the wind, and she rode without speaking. After long plodding, the line of

posts turned unexpectedly a right angle, and Vaughan took a long, relieved breath.

"We'll have the wind on our backs now," he remarked. "I guess we may as well keep on and see where this

His tone was too elaborately cheerful to be very cheering.He was wondering if the girl was dressed warmly.

It had been so warm and sunny before the blizzard struck, but now the wind searched out the thin places in

one's clothing and ran lead in one's bones, where should be simply marrow. He fancied that her voice, when

she spoke, gave evidence of actual sufferingand the heart of Rowdy Vaughan was ever soft toward a

"If you're cold," he began, "I'll open up my bed and get out a blanket." He held Dixie in tentatively.

"Oh, don't trouble to do that," she protested; but there was that in her voice which hardened his impulse into

"I ought to have thought of it before," he lamented, and swung down stiffly into the snow.

Her eyes followed his movement with a very evident interest while he unbuckled the pack Chub had carried

"Stand in your stirrup," he commanded briskly "and I'll wrap you up. It's a Navajo, and the wind will have a

Vaughan tucked it around her with more care than haste. He was pretty uncomfortable himself, and for that

reason he was the more anxious that the girl should be warm. It came to him that she was a cute little

schoolma'am, all right; he was glad she belonged close around the Cross L. He also wished he knew her

"How's that?" he wanted to know, when he had made sure that her feetsuch tiny feetwere well covered.

He thought it lucky that she did not ride astride, after the manner of the latterday young woman, because

then he could not have covered her so completely. "Hold on! That windy side's going to make trouble." He

unbuckled the strap he wore to hold his own coat snug about him, and put it around the girl's slim waist,

feeling idiotically happy and guilty the while. "It don't come within a mile of you," he complained; "but it'll

Sheltered in the thick folds of the Navajo, she laughed, and the sound of it sent the blood galloping through

Rowdy Vaughan's body so that he was almost warm. He went and scraped the snow out of his saddle, and

swung up, feeling that, after all, there are worse things in the world than being lost and hungry in a blizzard,

"I don't want to have you think I may be a bold, bad robberman," he said, when they got going again. "My

name's Rowdy Vaughanfor which I beg your pardon. Mother named me Rowland, never knowing I'd get

out here and have her nice, pretty name mutilated that way. I won't say that my behavior never suggested the

change, though. I'm from the Horseshoe Bar, over the line, and if I have my way, I'll be a Cross L man before

"For fear you may think I'm aa robberwoman," she answered him solemnlyhe felt sure her eyes

twinkled, if only he could have seen them "I'm Jessie Conroy. And if you're from over the line, maybe you

Rowdy hunched his shoulderspresumably at the wind. Harry Conroy's sister, was she? And he swore. "I

may have met him," he parried, in a tone you'd never notice as being painstakingly careless. "I think I did,

Miss Conroy seemed displeased, and presently the cause was forthcoming. "If you'd ever met him," she said,

"you'd hardly forget him." (Rowdy mentally agreed profanely.) "He's the best rider in the whole

countryand the handsomest. Hehe's splendid! And he's the only brother I've got. It's a pity you never got

"Yes," lied Rowdy, and thought a good deal in a very short time. Harry Conroy's sister! Well, she wasn't to

blame for that, of course; nor for thinking her brother a white man. "I remember I did see him ride once," he

Miss Conroy turned her face toward him and smiled her pleasure, and Rowdy hovered between heaven

andanother place. He was glad she smiled, and he was afraid of what that subject might discover for his

straightforward tongue in the way of pitfalls. It would not be nice to let her know what he really thought of

"This looks to me like a lane," he said diplomatically. "We must be getting somewhere; don't you recognize

Miss Conroy leaned forward and peered through the clouds of snow dust. Already the night was creeping

down upon the land, stealthily turning the blank white of the blizzard into as blank a graywhich was as

near darkness as it could get, because of the snow which fell and fell, and yet seemed never to find an

abidingplace, but danced and swirled giddily in the wind as the cold froze it dry. There would be no more

damp, clinging masses that night; it was sifting down like flour from a giant sieve; and of the supply there

Vaughan looked sharply at her muffled figure and wondered why she broke off so suddenly. She was staring

hard at the few, faint traces of landmarks; and, bundled in the redandyellow Navajo blanket, with her

Out ahead, a dog began barking vaguely, and Rowdy turned eagerly to the sound. Dixie, scenting human

habitation, stepped out more briskly through the snow, and even Chub lifted an ear briefly to show he heard.

"It may not be any one you know," Vaughan remarked, and his voice showed his longing; "but it'll be shelter

and a warm fireand supper. Can you appreciate such blessings, Miss Conroy? I can. I've been in the saddle

since sunrise; and I was so sure I'd strike the Cross L by dinnertime that I didn't bring a bite to eat. It was a

sheepcamp where I stopped, and the grub didn't look good to me, anywayI've called myself bad names all

the afternoon for being more dainty than sensible. But it's all right now, I guess."

The storm lifted suddenly, as storms have a way of doing, and a low, squat ranchhouse stood dimly revealed

against the bleak expanse of windtortured prairie. Rowdy gave an exultant little whoop and made for the

gate, leaned and swung it open and rode through, dragging Chub after him by main strength, as usual. When

he turned to close the gate after Miss Conroy he found her standing still in the lane.

"Come on in," he called, with a trace of impatience born of his weariness and hunger.

"Thank you, no." Miss Conroy's voice was as crisply cold as the wind which fluttered the Navajo blanket

For a moment Rowdy found nothing to say; he just stared. Miss Conroy shifted uneasily in the saddle.

"This is old Bill Brown's place," she explained reluctantly. "HeI'd rather freeze than go in!"

"Well, I guess that won't be hard to do," he retorted curtly, "if you stay out much longer."

The dog was growing hysterical over their presence, and Bill Brown himself came out to see what it was all

"Hello!" he shouted. "Why don't yuh come on in? What yuh standing there chewing the rag for?"

"Go in," she commanded imperiously, quite as if he were a refractory pupil. "You're tired out, and hungry.

I'm neither. Besides, I know where I am now. I can find my way without any trouble. Go in, I tell you!"

But Rowdy stayed where he was, with the gate creaking to and fro between them. Dixie circled till his back

was to the wind. "I hope you don't think you're going to mill around out here alone," Rowdy said tartly.

"I can manage very well. I'm not lost now, I tell you. Rodway's is only three miles from here, and I know the

Bill Brown waded out to them, wondering what weighty discussion was keeping them there in the cold.

Vaughan he passed by with the cursory glance of a disinterested stranger, and went on to where Miss Conroy

"Oh, it's you!" he said grimly. "Well, come in and thaw out; I hope yuh didn't think yuh wouldn't be welcome

Miss Conroy struck Badger sharply across the flank and disappeared into the night. "When I ask shelter of

Rowdy started after, and met Bill Brown squarely in the gate. Bill eyed him sharply. "Say, young fellow,

"None of your damn' business," snapped Rowdy, and drove the spurs into Dixie's ribs. But Chub was a

handicap at any time; now, when he was tired, there was no getting anything like speed out of him; he clung

to his shuffling trot, which was really no better than a walk. After five minutes spent alternately in spurring

Dixie and yanking at Chub's leadrope, Rowdy grew frightened and took to shouting. While they were in the

lane Miss Conroy must perforce ride straight ahead, but the lane would not last always. As though with

malicious intent, the snow swooped down again and the world became an unreal, nightmare world, wherein

was nothing save shifting, blinding snowfloury and wind and bitter, numbing cold.

Rowdy stood in his stirrups, cupped his chilled fingers around his numbed lips, and sent a longdrawn

It seemed to him, after long listening, that from the right came faint reply, and he turned and rode recklessly,

swearing at Chub for his slowness. He called again, and the answer, though faint, was unmistakable. He

settled heavily into the saddletoo weak, from sheer relief, to call again. He had not known till then just

how frightened he had been, and he was somewhat disconcerted at the discovery. In a minute the reaction

"Hello?" came the voice of Miss Conroy, tantalizingly calm, and as superior as the greeting of Central. "Were

She was close to himso close that she had not needed to raise her voice perceptibly. Rowdy rode up

"I sure was," he admitted. And then: "You rode off with my blanket on." He was very proud of his

"Oh!" Miss Conroy was almost deceived, and a bit disappointed. "I'll give it to you now, and you can go

"No hurry," said Rowdy politely. "I'll go on and see if you can find a place that looks good to you. You seem

Miss Conroy may have blushed, in the shelter of the blanket. "I suppose it did look strange to you," she

confessed, but defiantly. "Bill Brown is an enemy toHarry. Hebecause he lost a horse or two out of a

field, one time, hehe actually accused Harry of taking them! He lied, of course, and nobody believed him;

nobody could believe a thing like that about Harry. It was perfectly absurd. But he did his best to hurt Harry's

name, and I would rather freeze than ask shelter of him. Wouldn't youin my place, I mean?"

"Of course you'd be loyal," approved Miss Conroy warmly. "But I didn't want you to come on; it isn't your

"You forgot the blanket," Rowdy reminded wickedly. "I think a lot of that Navajo."

For a long hour they plodded blindly. Rowdy beat his hands often about his body to start the blood, and

meditated yearnigly upon hot coffee and the things he liked best to eat. Also, a good long pull at a flask

wouldn't be had, either, he thought. And he hoped this little schoolma'am knew where she was goingtruth

After a while, it seemed that Miss Conroy doubted it also. She took to leaning forward and straining her eyes

"It seems to me," Rowdy ventured mildly, "if there were a gate, it would have some kind of a fence hitched to

Miss Conroy was in no mood for facetiousness, and refused to answer his question. "I surely can't have made

"It would be a wonder if you didn't, such a night as this," he consoled. "I wouldn't bank on traveling straight

myself, even if I knew the countrywhich I don't. And I've been in more blizzards than I'm years old."

"Rodway's place can't be far away," she said, brightening. "It may be farther to the east; shall we try that

"Sure, we'll try. It's all we can do. My packhorse is about all in, from the way he hangs back; if we don't

"Oh, don't do that," she begged. "It would be too cruel. We're sure to reach Rodway's very soon."

More plodding through drifts high and drifts low; more leaning from saddles to search anxiously for trace of

something besides snow and wind and biting cold. Then, far to the right, a yellow eye glowed briefly when

the storm paused to take breath. Miss Conroy gave a glad little cry and turned Badger sharply.

"Did you see? It was the light from a window. We were going the wrong way. I'm sure that is Rodway's."

Rowdy thanked the Lord and followed her. They came up against a fence, found a gate, and passed through.

While they hurried toward it, the light winked welcome; as they drew near, some one stirred the fire and sent

sparks and rosehued smoke rushing up into the smother of snow. Rowdy watched them wistfully, and

wondered if there would be supper, and strong, hot coffee. He lifted Miss Conroy out of the saddle, carried

her two long strides, and deposited her upon the doorstep; rapped imperatively, and when a voice replied,

For a minute they stood blinking, just within the door. The change from numbing cold and darkness to the

Then Miss Conroy went over and held her little, gloved hands to the heat of the stove, but she did not take the

chair which some one pushed toward her. She stood, the blanket shrouding her face and her slim young

figure, and looked about her curiously. It was not Rodway's house, after all. She thought she knew what place

From the first, Rowdy did not like the look of thingsthough for himself it did not matter; he was used to

such scenes. It was the presence of the girl which made him uncomfortable. He unbuttoned his coat that the

Four men sat around a small, dirty table; evidently the arrivals had interrupted an exciting game of sevenup.

A glance told Rowdy, even if his nose had not, that the four round, ribbed bottles had not been nearly emptied

"Have one on the house," the man nearest him cried, and shoved a bottle toward him.

Involuntarily Rowdy reached for it. Now that he was inside, he realized all at once how weary he was, and

cold and hungry. Each abused muscle and nerve seemed to have a distinct grievance against him. His fingers

closed around the bottle before he remembered and dropped it. He looked up, hoping Miss Conroy had not

observed the action; met her wide, questioning eyes, and the blood flew guiltily to his cheeks.

"Thanks, boysnot any for me," he said, and apologized to Miss Conroy with his eyes.

The man rose and confronted him unsteadily. "Dat's a hell off a way! You too proud for drink weeth us? You

Rowdy's eyelids drooped, which was a bad sign for those who knew him. "You're forgetting there's a lady

The man turned a brief, contemptuous glance toward the stove. "You got the damn' queer way to talk. I don't

"Aw, shut up, Frenchy," the man at his elbow abjured him. "He don't have to drink if he don't want to."

"You keep the face close," the other retorted majestically; and cursed loud and long and incoherently.

Rowdy drew back his arm, with a fist that meant trouble for somebody; but there were others before him who

Rowdy buttoned up his coat the while he eyed the group disgustedly. "I guess we'll drift," he remarked. "You

"Aw, stay and warm up," the fourth man expostulated. "Yuh don't need t' mind Le Febre; he's drunk.'

But Rowdy opened the door decisively, and Miss Conroy, her cheeks like two stormbuffeted poppies,

followed him out with dignityalbeit trailing a yard of redandyellow Navajo blanket behind her. Rowdy

lifted her into the saddle, tucked her feet carefully under the blanket, and said never a word.

"Mr. Vaughan," she began hesitatingly, "this is too bad; you need not have left. II wasn't afraid."

"I know you weren't," conceded Rowdy. "But it was a hard formationfor a woman. Are there any more

Miss Conroy replied misanthropically that if there were they would be sure to find them.

They took up their weary wanderings again, while the yellow eye of the window winked after them. They

missed Rodway's by a scant hundred yards, and didn't know it, because the side of the house next them had

no lighted windows. They traveled in a wide, half circle, and thought that they were leaving a straight trail

behind them. More than once Rowdy was urged by his aching arm to drop the leadrope and leave Chub to

shift by himself, but habit was strong and his heart was soft. Then he felt an odd twitching at the leadrope,

as if Chub were minded to rebel against their leadership. Rowdy yanked him into remembrance of his duty,

and wondered. Bill Brown's question came insistently to mind; he wondered the more.

Two minutes and the leadrope was sawing against the small of his back again. Rowdy turned Dixie's head,

"My packhorse seems to have an idea about where he wants to go," he said. "I guess we might as well follow

him as anybody; he ain't often taken with a rush of brains to the head. And we can't be any worse lost than we

Miss Conroy said no dispiritedly, and they swung about and followed Chub's leadership apathetically. It took

Chub just five minutes to demonstrate that he knew what he was about. When he stopped, it was with his

nose against a corral gate; not content with that, he whinnied, and a new, exultant note was in the sound. A

deepvoiced dog bayed loudly, and a shrill yelp cut in and clamored for recognition.

Rowdy, for the second time, thanked the Lord. But when he was stripping the pack off Chub's back, ten

minutes later, he was thinking many things he would not have cared to say aloud. It might be all right, but it

sure was strange, he told himself, that Chub belonged here at Rodway's when Harry Conroy claimed that he

was an Oregon horse. Rowdy had thought his account against Harry Conroy long enough, but it looked now

as though another item must be added to the list. He went in and ate his supper thoughtfully, and when he got

into bed he did not fall asleep within two minutes, as he might be expected to do. His last conscious thought

was not of stolen horses, however. It was: "And she's Harry Conroy's sister! Now, what do you think of that?

Next morning, after breakfast, Mr. Rodway followed Vaughan out to the stable, and repeated Bill Brown's

"I'd like to know where yuh got this horse," he began, with an apologetic sort of determination in his tone.

"He happens to belong to me. He was run off with a bunch three years ago, and this is the first trace anybody

has ever got of 'em. I see the brand's been worked. It was a Roman fourthat's my brand; now it looks like a

Rowdy had expected something of the sort, and he knew quite well what he was going to do; he had settled

"I got him in a deal across the line," he said. "I was told he came from east Oregon. But last night, when he

piloted us straight to your corral gate, I guessed he'd been here before. He's yours, all right, if you say so."

"Uh course he ain't worth such a pile uh money, apologized Rodway, "but the kids thought a heap of him. I'd

rather locate some of the horses that was with himor the man yuh got him of. They was some mighty good

horses run out uh this country then, but they was all out on the range, so we didn't miss 'em in time to do any

"No," said Rowdy deliberately. "The man I got Chub from went north, and I heard he got killed. I don't know

Rodway grunted, and Vaughan began vigorously brushing Dixie's roughened coat. "If you don't mind," he

said, after a minute, "I'd like to borrow Chub to pack my bed over to the Cross L. I can bring him back

"Why, sure!" assented Rodway eagerly. "I hate to take him from yuh, but the kids"

"Oh, that's all right," interrupted Rowdy cheerfully. "It's all in the game, and I should 'a' looked up his

pedigree, for I knew. Anyway, was worth the price of him to have him along last night. We'd have milled

"That's what," agreed Rodway. "Jessie's horse is one she brought from home lately, and he ain't located yet; I

dunno as he'd 'a' piloted her home. Billythat's what the kids named himwas born and raised here, yuh

Rowdy did not answer; there seemed nothing in particular to say, and he was wondering if he would see Miss

Conroy before he left. She had not eaten breakfast with the others; from their manner, he judged that no one

expected her to. He was not well informed upon the subject of schoolma'ams, but he had a hazy impression

that late rising was a distinguishing characteristicand he did not know how late. He saddled leisurely, and

packed his bed for the last time upon Chub. The redandyellow Navajo blanket he folded tenderly, with an

unconscious smile for the service it had done, and laid it in its accustomed place in the bed. Then, having no

plausible excuse for going back to the house, he mounted and rode away into the brilliant white world,

She might have got up in time to see him off, he thought discontentedly; but he supposed one cowpuncher

more or less made little difference to her. Anyway, he didn't know as he had any license to moon around her.

She probably had a fellow; she might even be engaged, for all he knew. Andshe was Harry Conroy's sister;

and from his experience with the breed, good looks didn't count for anything. Harry was goodlooking, and

he was a snake, if ever there was one. He had never expected to lie for himbut he had done it, all right

He had half a mind to go back and tell Rodway all he knew about those horses; it was only a matter of time,

anyway, till Harry Conroy overshot the mark and got what was coming to him. He sure didn't owe Harry

anything, that he had need to shield him like he had done. Still, Rodway would wonder why he hadn't told it

at first; and that little girl believed in Harry, and said he was "splendid!" Humph! He wondered if she really

He squared his back to the houseand the memory of Miss Conroy's eyesand plodded across the field to

the gate. Now the sun was shining, and there was no possibility of getting lost. The way to the Cross L lay

Rowdy rode leisurely up over the crest of a ridge beyond which lay the home ranch of the Cross L. Whether

it was henceforth to be his home he had yet to discoverthough there was reason for hoping that it would

be. Even so venturesome a man as Rowdy Vaughan would scarce ride a long hundred miles through

unpeopled prairie, in the tricky month of March, without some reason for expecting a welcome at the end of

his journey. In this case, a previous acquaintance with "Wooden Shoes" Mielke, foreman of the Cross L, was

Rowdy's trumpcard. Wooden Shoes, whenever chance had brought them together in the last two or three

years, was ever urging Rowdy to come over and unroll his soogans in the Cross L bedtent, and promising

the best string in the outfit to ridebesides other things alluring to a cowpuncher. So that, when his

relations with the Horseshoe Bar became strained, Rowdy remembered his friend of the Cross L and the

Just now he hoped that Wooden Shoes would be home to greet him, and his eyes searched wishfully the

huddle of loweaved cabins and the assortment of sheds and corrals for the bulky form of the foreman. But

no one seemed to be aboutexcept a bigbodied, bandylegged individual, who appeared to be playfully

chasing a big, bright bay stallion inside the large enclosure where stood the cabins.

Rowdy watched them impersonally; a glance proved that the man was not Wooden Shoes, and so he was not

particularly interested in him or his doings. It did occur to him, however, that if the fellow wanted to catch

that brute, he ought to have sense enough to get a horse. No one but a plumb idiot would mill around in that

snow afoot. He jogged down the slope at a shuffling trot, grinning tolerantly at the pantomime below.

He of the bandylegs stopped, evidently out of breath; the stallion stopped also, snorting defiance. Rowdy

heard him plainly, even at that distance. The horse arched his neck and watched the man warily, ready to be

off at the first symptom of hostilitiesand Rowdy observed that a short rope hung from his halter, swaying

Bandylegs seemed to have an idea; he turned and scuttled to the nearest cabin, returning with what seemed a

basin of oats, for he shook it enticingly and edged cautiously toward the horse. Rowdy could imagine him

coaxing, with hypocritically endearing names, such as "Good old boy!" and "Steady now, Billy"or

whatever the horse's name might be. Rowdy chuckled to himself, and hoped the horse saw through the

Perhaps the horse chuckled also; at any rate, he stood quite still, equally prepared to bounce away on the

instant or to don the mask of docility. Bandylegs drew nearer and nearer, shaking the basin briskly, like an

old woman sifting meal. The horse waited, his nostrils quivering hungrily at the smell of the oats, and with an

Bandylegs went on tiptoesor as nearly as he could in the snowthe basin at arm's length before. The

dainty, flaring nostrils sniffed tentatively, dipped into the basin, and snuffed the oats about luxuriouslytill

he felt a stealthy hand seize the dangling rope. At the touch he snorted protest, and was off and away,

Bandylegs sat up, scraped the snow out of his collar and his ears, and swore. It was then that Rowdy

Bandylegs lifted up his voice and bellowed things I should not like to repeat verbatim. But Rowdy gathered

that the man emphatically did want that soandsoandthensome horse caught, and that it couldn't be

done a blessed minute too soon. Whereat Rowdy smiled anew, with his face discreetly turned away from

Bandylegs, and took down his rope and widened the loop. Also, he turned Chub loose.

The stallion evidently sensed what new danger threatened his stolen freedom, and circled the yard with high,

springy strides. Rowdy circled after, saw his chance, swirled the loop twice over his head, and hazarded a

Rowdy knew it for pure good luck that it landed right, but to this day Bandylegs looks upon him as a

"Where shall I take him?" Rowdy asked, coming up with his captive, and with nothing but his eyes to show

Bandylegs crawled from the drift, still scraping snow from inside his collar, and gave many directions about

going through a certain gate into suchandsuch a corral; from there into a stable; and by seeming devious

"All right," said Rowdy, cutting short the last needless details. "I guess I can find the trail;" and started off,

leading the stallion. Bandylegs followed, and Chub, observing the departure of Dixie, ambled faithfully in

"Much obliged," conceded Bandylegs, when the stallion was safely housed and tied securely. "Where yuh

"Right here," Rowdy told him calmly, loosening Dixie's cinch. "I'm the longlost top hand that the Cross L's

been watching the skyline for, lo! these many moons, ayearning for the privilege of handing me forty

"ErI'm him," confessed Bandylegs meekly, and circled the two dubiously. "I guess you've heard uh Eagle

Rowdy let out an explosive, and showed a row of nice teeth. "Well, I ain't hard to please," he added. "I won't

kick on that, I guess. I like your looks tolerable well, and I'm willing to take yuh on for a boss. If yuh do your

part, I bet we'll get along fine." His tone was banteringly patronizing "Anyway, I'll try yuh for a spell. You

"What for?" ventured Bandylegsrather, Eagle Creekstill circling Rowdy dubiously.

"What for was I canned?" repeated Rowdy easily. "Being a modest youth, I hate t' tell yuh. But the old man's

son and me, we disagreed, and one of his eyes swelled some; so did mine, a little." He stood head and

shoulders above Eagle Creek, and he smiled down upon him engagingly. Eagle Creek capitulated before the

"Well, I ain't got any sonsthat I know of," he grinned. "So I guess yuh can consider yourself a Cross L man

"Why, sure!" The teeth gleamed again briefly. "That's what I've been telling you right along. Where's old

"Gone to Chinook. He'll be back in a day or two." Eagle Creek shifted his feet awkwardly. "Say"he

glanced uneasily behind him"yuh don't want t' let it get around that yuh sort of hired mesee?"

"Of course not," Rowdy assured him. "I was only joshing. If you don't want me, just tell me to hit the sod."

"You stay right where you're at!" commanded Eagle Creek with returned confidence in himself and his

authority. Of a truth, this selfassured, straightlimbed young man had rather dazed him. "Take your bed and

warbag up to the bunkhouse and make yourself t' home till the boys get back, andsay, where'd yuh git

The laugh went out of Rowdy's tawny eyes. The question hit a spot that was becoming sore. "I borrowed him

this morning from Mr. Rodway," he said evenly. "I'm to take him back today. I stopped there last night."

"Oh!" Eagle Creek coughed apologetically, and said no word, while Rowdy led Chub back to the cabin which

he had pointed out as the bunkhouse; he stood by while Rowdy loosened the pack and dragged it inside.

"I guess you can get located here," he said. "I ain't workin' more'n three or four men just now, but there's

quite a few uh the boys stopping here; the Cross L's a regular hangout for cowpunchers. You're a little

early for the season, but I'll see that yuh have something t' dojust t' keep yuh out uh devilment."

Rowdy's brows unbent; it would seem that Eagle Creek was capable of "joshing" also. "It's up t' you,

oldtimer," he retorted. "I'm strong and willing, and don't shy at anything but pitchforks."

Eagle Creek grinned. "This ain't no blamed cowhospital," he gave as a parting shot. "All the hay that's

shoveled on this ranch needn't hurt nobody's feelings." With that he shut the door, and left Rowdy to acquaint

Rowdy was sprawled ungracefully upon somebody's bunkhe neither knew nor cared whoseand he was

snoring unmelodiously, and not dreaming a thing; for when a cowpuncher has nothing in particular to do, he

sleeps to atone for the weary hours when he must be very wideawake. An avalanche descended upon his

unwarned middle, and checked the rhythmic ebb and flow of sound. He squawked and came to life clawing

"I'd like t' know where the devil yuh come from," a voice remarked plaintively in a soft treble.

Rowdy opened his eyes with a snap. "Pink! by all that's good and bad! Get up off my diaphragm, you little

Pink absentmindedly kneaded Rowdy's stomach with his knuckles, and immediately found himself in a far

corner. He came back, dimpling mischievously. He looked much more an angel than a fiend, for all his

"Your bed and warbag's on my bunk; you're on Smoky's; and Dixie's makin' himself to home in the corral.

By all them signs and tokens, I give a reckless guess you're here t' stay a while. That right?" He prodded

"It sure is, Pink. And if I'd known you was holding out here, I'd 'a' come sooner, maybe. You sure look good

to me, you darned little cuss!" Rowdy sat up and took a lightning inventory of the four or five other fellows

lounging about. He must have slept pretty sound, he thought, not to hear them come in.

Pink read the look, and bethought him of the necessary introductions. "This is my sidekicker over the line

thatyou've heard about till you're plumb weary, boys," he announced musically. "His name is Rowdy

Vaughanbroncopeeler, crap fiend, and allround bad man. He ain't a safe companion, and yuh want t'

sleep with your sixguns cuddled under your right ear, and never, on no account, show him your backs. He's

a real wolf, he is, and the only reason I live t' tell the tale is because he respects m' size. Boys, I'm afraid for

"Pink, you need killing, and I'm tempted to live up to my rep," grinned Rowdy indulgently. "Read me the

"Oh, they ain't no worsewhen yuh git used to 'em. That longlegged jasper with the faraway look in his

eyes is the Silent Oneif he takes a notion t' you, he'll maybe tell yuh the name his mother calls him. He

may have seen better days; but here's hoping he won't see no worse! He once was a tenderfoot; but he's

The Silent One nodded carelessly, but with a quick, measuring glance that Rowdy liked.

"This unshaved savage is Smoky. He's harmless, if yuh don't mention socialism in his presence; and if yuh

do, he'll downwiththetrustandlonglivethesonsuhtoil, all hours uh the night, and keep folks

awake. Then him and the fellow that started him off 'll likely get chapped good and plenty. Over there's Jim

Ellis and Bob Nevin; they've both turned a cow or two, and I've seen worse specimens running around

looseplenty of 'em. That man hidin' behind the grinyou can see him if yuh look closeis Sunny Sam.

Yuh needn't take no notice of him, unless you're a mind to. He won't carehe's dead gentle.

"Say," he broke off, "how'd you happen t' stray onto this range, anyhow? Yuh used t' belong t the Horseshoe

"They won't pay taxes on me no more, son." Rowdy's eyes dwelt fondly upon Pink's cupidbow mouth and

dimples. He had never dreamed of finding Pink here; though, when he came to think of it there was no reason

Pink was not like any one else. He was slight and girlish to look at. But you mustn't trust appearances; for

Pink was all muscle strung on steel wire, according to the belief of those who tried to handle him. He had

little white hands, and feet that looked quite comfortable in a number four boot, and his hair was a tawny gold

and curled in distracting, damp rings on his forehead. His eyes were blue and longlashed and beautiful, and

they looked at the world with baby innocencewhereas a more sophisticated little devil never jangled spurs

at his heels. He was everything but insipid, and men liked himunless he chose to dislike them, when they

thought of him with grating teeth. To find him bullying the Cross L boys brought a warmth to Rowdy's heart.

Pink made a cigarette, and then offered Rowdy his tobaccosack, and asked questions about the Cypress

Hills country. How was this girl?and was that one married yet?and did the other still grieve for him? As

a matter of fact, he had yet to see the girl who could quicken his pulse a single beat, and for that reason it

It was after dinner when he and Rowdy went humming down to the stables, gossiping like a couple of old

"Oh, for Heaven's sake let up on that cayuse!" Rowdy cried petulantly. "I wish I'd never got sight of the little

buzzardhead; I've had him crammed down my throat the last day or two till it's getting plumb monotonous.

Pink, that cayuse never saw Oregon. He was raised right on this flat, and he belongs to old Rodway. I've got

Pink took three puffs at his cigarette, and lifted his long lashes to Rowdy's gloomfilled face. "Stole?" he

"Stole," Rowdy repeated disgustedly. "So was the whole blame' bunch, as near as I can make out."

"We might 'a' knowed it. We might 'a' guessed Harry Conroy wouldn't have a straight title to anything if he

could make it crooked. I bet he never finished paying back that money yuh lent himout uh the kindness uh

your heart. Did he?" Pink leaned against the corral fence and kicked meditatively at a snowcovered rock.

"He did not, m' son. Chub's all I ever got out uh the dealand I haven't even got him. I borrowed him from

Rodway to pack my bed overborrowed the blame' little runty cayuse that cost me sixtyfour hardearned

dollars; that's what Harry borrowed of me. And every blame' gazabo on the flat wanted to know what I was

"I can tell yuh where t' find Conroy, Rowdy. He's working for an outfit down on the river. I'd sure fix him for

this! Yuh got plenty of evidence; you can send him up like a charm. It was different when he cut your latigo

strap in that roughriding contest; yuh couldn't prove it on him. But thiswhy, man, it's a cinch!"

"I haven't lost Harry Conroy, so I ain't looking for him just now," growled Rowdy. "So long as he keeps out

And, Pink, I wish you'd keep this quietabout him having Chub. I told Rodway I couldn't put him next to

the fellow that brought that bunch across the line. I told him the fellow went north and got killed. He did go

northfifty miles or so; and he'd ought to been killed, if he wasn't. Let it go that way, Pink."

Pink looked like a cherubfaced child when he has been told there's no Santa Claus. "Sure, if yuh say so," he

stammered dubiously. He eyed Rowdy reproachfully, and then looked away to the horizon. He kicked the

rock out of place, and then poked it painstakingly back with his toeand from the look of him, he did not

"I stopped there last night. I got to milling around in that storm, and ran across the schoolma'am that boards at

Rodway's, She was plumb lost, too, so we dubbed around together for a while, and finally got inside

Rodway's field. Then Chub come alive and piloted us to the house. This morning Rodway claimed

himsays the brand has been worked from a Roman four. Oh, it's all straight goods," he added hastily. "Old

But Pink was not thinking of Chub. He hunched his chapbelt higher and spat viciously into the snow. "I

knowed it," he declared, with melancholy triumph. "It's schoolma'amitis that's gave yuh softening uh the

vitals, and not no Christian charity play. How comes it you're took that way, all unbeknown t' your friends?

Yuh never used t' bother about no female girls. It's a cinch you're wise that she's Harry's sister; and I admit

she's a swell looker. But so's he; and I should think, Rowdy, you'd had about enough uh that brand uh snake."

"There's nothing so snaky about her that I could see," defended Rowdy. He did not particularly relish having

his own mental argument against Miss Conroy thrown back at him from another. "She seemed to be all right;

"Well, I never heard anybody stand up and call Harry whitelivered, when yuh come t' that," Pink cut in

tartly. "Anyway, you're a blame fool. If she was a little whitewinged angel, yuh wouldn't stand no kind uh

show; and I tell yuh why. She's got a little tin god that she says prayers to regular.

That's Harry. And wouldn't he be the fine brotherinlaw? He could borrow all your wages off'n yuh, and

when yuh went t' make a pretty ride, he'd up and cut your latigo, and give yuh a fall. And he could work

stolen horses off onto yuhand yuh wouldn't give a damn, 'cause Jessie wears a number two shoe"

"They're not!" laughed Rowdy, halfangrily. "If you say that again, Pink, I'll stick your head in a snowbank.

"You've sure got 'em," mourned Pink. "Yuh need t' be closeherded by your friends, and that's no dream. You

wait till toward evening before yuh take that horse back. I'm going along t' chappyrone yuh, Rowdy. Yuh ain't

Rowdy cursed him companionably and told him to go along, if he wanted to, and to look out he didn't throw

up his own hands; and Pink grumbled and swore and did go along. But when they got there, Miss Conroy

greeted him like a very good friend; which sent Rowdy sulky, and kept him so all the evening. It seemed to

him that Pink was playing a double game, and when they started home he told him so.

But Pink turned in his saddle and smiled so that his dimples showed plainly in the moonlight. "Chappyrones

that set in a corner and look wise are the rankest kind uh fakes," he explained. "When she was talking to me,

Rowdy accepted the explanation silently, and stored it away in his memory. After that, by riding craftily, and

by threats, and by much vituperation, he managed to reach Rodway's unchapperoned at least three times out

In two days Rowdy was quite at home with the Cross L. In a month he found himself transplanted from the

smokeladen air of the bunkhouse, and set off from the world in a line camp, with nothing to do but patrol

the boggy banks of Milk River, where it was still unfenced and unclaimed by small farmers. The only

mitigation of his exile, so far as he could see, lay in the fact that he had Pink and the Silent One for

It developed that when he would speak to the Silent One, he must say Jim, or wait long for a reply. Also, the

Silent One was not always silent, and he was quick to observe the weak points in those around him, and keen

at repartee. When it pleased him so to do, he could handle the English language in a way that was perfectly

amazingand not always intelligible to the unschooled. At such times Pink frankly made no attempt to

understand him; Rowdy, having been hustled through grammar school and twothirds through high school

before he ran away from a brand new stepmother, rather enjoyed the outbreaks and Pink's consequent disgust.

Not one of them loved particularly the line camp, and Rowdy least of all, since it put an extra ten miles

between Miss Conroy and himself. Rowdy had got to that point where his mind dwelt much upon matters

domestic, and he made many secret calculations on the cost of housekeeping for two. More than that, he put

himself upon a rigid allowance for pocketmoneyan allowance barely sufficient to keep him in tobacco

and papers. All this without consulting Miss Conroy's wisheswhich only goes to show that Rowdy

The Silent One complained that he could not keep supplied with readingmatter, and Pink bewailed the

monotony of inaction. For, beyond watching the river to keep the cattle from miring in the mud lately

According to the calendar, spring was well upon them, and the prairies would soon be flaunting new dresses

of green. The calendar, however, had neglected to record the rainless heat of the summer gone before, or the

searing winds that burned the grass brown as it grew, or the winter which forgot its part and permitted

prairiedogs to chipchipchip above ground in January, when they should be sleeping decently in their

Apart from the brief storm which Rowdy had brought with him, there had been no snow worth considering.

Always the chill winds shaved the barren land from the north, or veered unexpectedly, and blew dry warmth

from the southwest; but never the snow for which the land yearned. Wind, and bright sunlight, and more

wind, and hypocritical, drifting clouds, and more sun; lean cattle walking, walking, uphill and down coulee,

nose to the dry ground, snipping the stray tufts where should be a woolly carpet of sweet, ripened grasses,

eating wildrose bushes level with the sod, and wishing there was only an abundance even of them; drifting

uneasily from hilltop to farther hilltop, hungerdriven and gaunt, where should be sleek content. When they

sought to continue their quest beyond the river, and the weaker bogged at its muddy edge, Rowdy and Pink

and the Silent One would ride out, and with their ropes drag them back ignominiously to solid ground and the

May Day found the grassland brown and lifeless, with a chill wind blowing over it. The cattle wandered as

before except that knockkneed little calves trailed beside their lean mothers and clamored for full stomachs.

The Cross L cattle bore the brunt of the range famine, because Eagle Creek Smith was a stockman of the old

school. His cattle must live on the open range, because they always had done so. Other men bought or leased

large tracts of grassland, and fenced them for just such an emergency, but not he. It is true that he had two

or three large fields, as Miss Conroy had told Rowdy, but it was his boast that all the hay he raised was eaten

by his saddlehorses, and that all the fields he owned were used solely for horse pastures. The open range was

Through the dry summer before, when other men read the ominous signs and hurriedly leased pastureland

and cut down their herds to what the fields would feed, Eagle Creek went calmly on as he had done always.

He shipped what beef was fit and that, of a truth, was not much!and settled down for the winter, trusting

to winter snows and spring rains to refill the longdry lakes and waterholes, and coat the levels anew with

But the winter snows had failed to appear, and with the spring came no rain. "April showers" became a

hideously ironical joke at nature's expense. Always the wind blew, and sometimes great flocks of clouds

would drift superciliously up from the far skyline, play with men's hopes, and sail disdainfully on to some

It is all very well for a man to cling stubbornly to precedent, but if he clings long enough, there comes a time

when to cling becomes akin to crime. Eagle Creek Smith still stubbornly held that rangecattle should be kept

to the range. He waited until May was fast merging to June, watching, from sheer habit, for the spring

transformation of brown prairies into green. When it did not come, and only the coulee sides and bottoms

showed green among the brown, he accepted ruefully the unusual conditions which nature had thrust upon

him, and started "Wooden Shoes" out with the wagons on the horse roundup, which is a preliminary to the

"I call that a bad job well done," Pink remarked, after a long silence, as he gave over trying to catch a fish in

"What?" Rowdy, still prone to daydreams of matters domestic, came back reluctantly to reality, and

"Oh, come alive! I mean the horse roundup. How we're going to keep that bunch uh skeletons under us all

summer is a guessing contest for fair. Wooden Shoes has got t' give me about forty, instead of a dozen, if he

wants me t' hit 'er up on circle the way I'm used to. I bet their backbones'll wear clean up through our

"Oh, I guess not," said Rowdy calmly. "They ain't so thinand they'll pick up flesh. There's some mighty

good ones in the bunch, too. I hope Wooden Shoes don't forget to give me the first pick. There's one I got my

eye onthat blue roan. Anyway, I guess you can wiggle along with less than forty."

Pink shook his head thoughtfully and sighed. Pink loved good mounts, and the outlook did not please him.

The roundup had camped, for the last time, on the river within easy riding distance of Camas. The next day's

drive would bring them to the home ranch, where Eagle Creek was fuming over the lateness of the season, the

condition of the range, and the June rains, which had thus far failed even to moisten decently the grassroots.

"Let's ride over to Camas; all the other fellows have gone," Pink proposed listlessly, drawing in his line.

Rowdy as listlessly consented. Camas as a town was neither interesting nor important; but when one has

spent three long weeks communing with nature in her sulkiest and most unamiable mood, even a town

The sun was piling gorgeous masses of purple and crimson clouds high about him, cuddling his fat cheeks

against their soft folds till, a Midas, he turned them to gold at the touch. Those farther away gloomed

jealously at the favoritism of their lord, and huddled closer togetherthe purple for rage, perhaps; and the

Pink's face was tinged daintily with the glow. and even Rowdy's lean, brown features were for the moment

glorified. They rode knee to knee silently, thinking each his own thoughts the while they watched the sunset

Soon the west held none but the deeper tints, and the shadows climbed, with the stealthy tread of trailing

Indians, from the valley, chasing the afterglow to the very hilltops, where it stood a moment at bay and then

surrendered meekly to the dusk. A meadowlark nearby cut the silence into haunting ripples of melody,

stopped affrighted at their coming, and flew off into the dull glow of the west; his little body showed black

against a crimson cloud. Out across the river a lone coyote yapped sharply, then trailed off into the weird

"Brotherinlaw's in town today; Bob Nevin saw him," Pink remarked, when the coyote ceased wailing and

"Brotherinlaw. Yours, not mine. Jessie's tin god. If he's there yet, I bid for an invite to the 'swatfest.' Or

maybe"a horrible possibility forced itself upon Pink"maybe you'll kill the fattest maverick and fall on

"The maverick's?" Rowdy's brows were rather pinched together, but his tone told nothing.

"Naw; Harry Conroy's a fellow's liable to do most any fool thing when he's got schoolma'amitis."

Pink snorted. The possibility had grown to black certainty in his mind. He became suddenly furious.

"Lord! I hope some kind friend'll lead me out an' knock me in the head, if ever I get locoed over any darned

"Then your days are sure numbered in words uh one syllable, oldtimer," snapped Pink.

Rowdy leaned and patted him caressingly upon the shouldera form of irony which Pink detested. "Don't

"I sure did!" Pink drew a long breath of relief. "Yuh needn't think I'm going t' take chances on being no

human colander. I've packed a gun for Harry Conroy ever since that roughriding contest uh yourn. Yuh

mind the way I took him under the ear with a rock? He's been makin' wartalk behind m' back ever since. Did

"All the same, it'll suit me not to run up against him," said Rowdy quite frankly. He knew Pink would

understand. Then he lifted his coat suggestively, to show the weapon concealed beneath, and smiled.

"Different here. Yuh did have sense enough t' be readyand if yuh see him, and don't forget he's got a sister

with a number two foot, damned if I don't fix yuh both aplenty!" He settled his hat more firmly over his

Rowdy caught the action and the look from the tail of his eye, and grinned at his horse's ears. Pink in warlike

mood always made him think of a fouryearold child playing pirate with the difference that Pink was

For more reasons than one he hoped they would not meet Harry Conroy. Jessie was still in ignorance of his

real attitude toward her brother, and Rowdy wanted nothing more than to keep her so. The trouble was that he

was quite certain to forget everything but his grievances, if ever he came face to face with Harry. Also, Pink

would always fight quicker for his friends than for himself, and he felt very tender toward Pink. So he hoped

fervently that Harry Conroy had already ridden back whence he came, and there would be no unpleasantness.

Four or five Cross L horses stood meekly before the Come Again Saloon, so Rowdy and Pink added theirs to

the gathering and went in. The Silent One looked up from his place at a round table in a far corner, and

"We need another hand here," he said, when they went over to him. "These gentlemen are worried because

they might be taken into high society some day, and they would be placed in a very embarrassing position

through their ignorance of bridgewhist. I have very magnanimously consented to teach them the rudiments."

Bob Nevin looked up, and then lowered an eyelid cautiously. "He's a liar. He offered to learn us how to play

it; we bet him the drinks he didn't savvy the game himself. Set down, Pink, and I'll have you for my pretty

The Silent One shuffled the cards thoughtfully. "To make it seem like bonafide bridge," he began, "we

"Aw, the common, ordinary brand is good enough," protested Bob. "I ain't in on any trimmings."

The Silent One smiled ever so slightly. "We should have prizesor favors. Is there a store in town where

"They got codfish up here; I smelt it," suggested Jim Ellis. Him the Silent One ignored.

"What do you say, boys, to a real, high society whistparty? I'll invite the crowd, and be the hostess. And I'll

"Meeting's adjourned," cried Jim Ellis, and got up to accept the invitation and range along the bar with the

The others remained seated, and the bartender called across to know what they would have. Pink cut the cards

very carefully, and did not look up. Rowdy thrust both hands in his pockets and turned his square shoulder to

Men began to observe his attitude, and looked at one another. When one is asked to drink with another, he

Harry Conroy took three long steps and laid a hand on Rowdy's shouldera hand which Rowdy shook off as

though it burned. "Say, stranger, are you too hightoned t' drink with a common cowpuncher?" he demanded

Rowdy halfturned toward him. "No, sir. But I'll be mighty thirsty before I drink with you." His voice was

The room stilled on the instant; it was as if every man of them had turned to lay figures. Harry Conroy had

winced at sight of Rowdy's facemen saw that, and some of them wondered. Pink leaned back in his chair,

every nerve tightened for the next move, and waited. It was Harryhandsome, sneering, a certain

"Oh, it's you, is it? I haven't saw yuh for some time. How's broncofighting? Gone up against any more

contests?" He laughed mockinglywith mouth and eyes maddeningly like Jessie's in teasing mood.

Rowdy could have killed him for the resemblance alone. His lids drooped sleepily over eyes that glittered.

"Yuh ought to have seen this broncopeeler pull leather, boys," he jeered recklessly "I like to 'a' died. He got

piled up the slickest I ever saw; and there was some feebleminded Canucks had money up on him, too: He

won't drink with me, 'cause I got off with the purse. He's got a grouchand I don't know as I blame him; he

"Maybe he did pull leatherbut he didn't cut none, like you did, you damn' skunk!" It was PinkPink, with

big, longlashed eyes purple with rage, and with a deadwhite streak around his mouth, and a gun in his

Harry wheeled toward him, and if a new light of fear crept into his eyes, his lips belied it in a sneer. "Two of

a kind!" he laughed. "So that's the story yuh brought over here, is it? Hell of a lot uh good it'll do yuh!"

Something in Pink's face warned Rowdy. Harry's face turned watchfully from one to the other. Evidently he

considered Pink the more uncertain of the two; and he was quite justified in so thinking. Pink was only

waiting for a cue before using his gun; and when Pink once began, there was no telling where or when he

While Harry stood uncertain, Rowdy's fist suddenly spatted against his cheek with considerable force. He

tumbled, a cursing heap, against the footrail of the bar, scrambled up like a cata particularly vicious

catand came at Rowdy murderously. The Come Again would shortly have been filled with the pungent

haze of burned powder, only that the bartender was a manofaction. He hated brawls, and it did not matter

to him how just might be the quarrel; he slapped the gaping barrels of a sawedoff shotgun across the

"Drop it! Cut it out!" he bellowed. "Yuh ain't going t' make no slaughterpen out uh this joint, I tell yuh. Put

up them guns or else take 'em outside. If you fellers are hellbent on smokin' each other up, they's all kinds

Conroy wheeled and walked, straightbacked and venomous, to the door. "Come on out, if yuh ain't scared,"

he sneered. "It's two agin' one and then some, by the look uh things. But I'll take yuh singly or in bunches. I'm

Rowdy rushed for him, with Pink and the Silent One at his heels. He had forgotten that Harry Conroy ever

had a sister of any sort whatsoever. All he knew was that Harry had done him much wrong, of the sort which

comes near to being unforgivable, and that he had sneered insults that no man may overlook. All he thought

Outside, the dusky stillness made all sounds seem out of place; the faint starlight made all objects black and

unfamiliar. Rowdy stopped, just off the threshold, blinking at the darkness which held his enemy. It was

strange that he did not find him at his elbow, he thoughtand a suspicion came to him that Harry was lying

in wait; it would be like him. He stepped out of the yellow glare from a window and stood in more friendly

shade. Behind him, on the doorstep, stood the other two, blinking as he had done.

A form which he did not recognize rushed up out of the darkness and confronted the three belligerently.

"You're adisturbin' the peace," he yelled. "We don't stand for nothing like that in Camas. You're my

prisonersall uh yuh." The edict seemed to include even the bartender, peering over the shoulder of Bob

Nevin, who struggled with several others for immediate passage through the doorway.

"I guess not, pardner," retorted Pink, facing him as defiantly as though the marshal were not twice his size.

The marshal lunged for him; but the Silent One, reaching a long arm from the doorstep, rapped him smartly

on the head with his gun. The marshal squawked and went down in a formless heap.

"Come on, boys," said the Silent One coolly. "I think we'd better go. Your friend seems to have vanished in

Rowdy, grumbling mightily over what looked unpleasantly like retreat, was pushed toward his horse and

mounted under protest. Likewise Pink, who was for staying and cleaning up the whole town. But the Silent

Harry Conroy might have been an opticaland auralillusion, for all the trace there was of him. But when

the three rode out into the little street, a bullet pinged close to Rowdy's left ear, and the red bark of a revolver

Rowdy and the two turned and rode back, shooting blindly at the place, but the shadow yawned silently

before them and gave no sign. Then the Silent One, observing that the marshal was getting upon a pair of

very unsteady legs, again assumed the leadership, and fairly forced Rowdy and Pink into the homeward trail.

Rowdy, with nice calculation, met Miss Conroy just as she had left the schoolhouse, and noted with much

satisfaction that she was riding alone. Miss Conroy, if she had been at all observant, must have seen the light

of some fixed purpose shining in his eyes; for Rowdy was resolved to make her a partner in his dreams of

matters domestic. And, of a truth, his easy assurance was the thinnest of cloaks to hide his inner agitation.

"The roundup just got in yesterday afternoon," he told her, as he swung into the trail beside her. "We're

going to start out again tomorrow, so this is about the only chance I'll have to see you for a while."

"I knew the roundup must be in," said Miss Conroy calmly. "I heard that you were in Camas a night or two

Inwardly, Rowdy dodged. "We camped close to Camas," he conceded guardedly. "A lot of us fellows rode

"Yes, so Harry told me," she said. "He came over to see me yesterday. He is going to leavehas already, in

fact. He has had a fine position offered him by the Indian agent at Belknap. The agent used to be a friend of

father's." She looked at Rowdy sidelong, and then went straight at what was in the minds of both.

"I'm sorry to hear, Mr. Vaughan, that you are on bad terms with Harry. What was the trouble?" She turned

her head and smiled at himbut the smile did not bring his lips to answer; it was unpleasantly like the way

Rowdy scented trouble and parried. "Men can't always get along agreeably together."

"And you disagree with a man rather emphatically, I should judge. Harry said you knocked him down."

"I did. And of course he told you how he took a shot at me from a dark corner, outside." Rowdy's eyes, it

"Hitting a man with your fist is one thing," said Rowdy with decision. "Shooting at him from ambush is

"Harry shouldn't have done that," she admitted with dignity. "But why wouldn't you take a drink with him?

Not that I approve of drinkingI wish Harry wouldn't do such thingsbut he said it was an insult the way

"Jessie"he repeated the name stubbornly"I think we'd better drop that subject. You don't understand the

case; and, anyway, I didn't come here to discuss Harry. Our trouble is long standing, and if I insulted him you

ought to know I had a reason. I never came whining to you about him, and it don't speak well for him that he

hotfooted over to you with his version. I suppose he'd heard about meergoing to see you, and wanted

to queer me. I hope you'll take my word for it, Jessie, that I've never harmed him; all the trouble he's made for

"But what I came over for today concerns just you and me. I wanted to tell you thatto ask you if you'll

marry me. I might put it more artistic, Jessie, but that's what I mean, andI mean all the things I'd like to say

and can't." He stopped and smiled at her, wistfully whimsical. "I've been three weeks getting my feelings into

proper words, little girl, and coming over here I had a speech thought out that sure done justice to my subject.

Miss Conroy looked away from him, but he could see a deeper tint of red in her cheek. It seemed a long time

before she said anything. Then: "But you've forgotten about Harry. He's my brother, and he'd beeryou

"Harry! Well, I pass him up. I've got a pretty long account against him; but I'll cross it off. It won't be hard to

dofor you. I've thought of all that; and a man can forgive a whole lot in the brother of the woman he

loves." He leaned toward her and added honestly: "I can't promise you I'll ever get to like him, Jessie; but I'll

keep my hands off him, and I'll treat him civil; and when you consider all he's done, that's quite a largesized

"The only thing to decide is whether you like me enough. If you do, we'll sure be happy. Never mind Harry."

"You're very generous," she flared, "telling me to never mind Harry. And Harry's my own brother, and the

only near relative I've got. I know he'simpulsive, and quicktempered, perhaps. But he needs me all the

That "even" may have been a slip, but it heartened Rowdy immensely. "I don't ask you to," he told her gently.

"I do wish you two would be sensible, and stop quarreling." She glanced at him briefly.

"I'm willing to cut it outI told you that. I can't answer for him, though." Rowdy sighed, wishing Harry

Miss Conroy suddenly resolved to be strictly just; and when a young woman sets about being deliberately

"Before I answer you, I must know just what all this is about," she said firmly. "I want to hear both sides; I'm

"Do you really, in your heart, believe that Harry wouldknowinglybe guilty of anything mean?" Her eyes

Rowdy looked into them, hesitated, and clung tenaciously to his convictions. "Yes, I do; and I know Harry

"I'm afraid you are very prejudiced," she sighed. "But go on; tell me just what you have against Harry. I'm

Rowdy regarded her, puzzled. How he was to comply he did not know. It would be simply brutal to tell her.

He would feel like a hangman. And she believed so in Harry, she wouldn't listen; even if she did, he thought

"Don't you see you're putting me in a mighty hard position, girlie?" he protested. "You're a heap better off not

to know. He's your brother. I wish you'd take my word that I'll drop the whole thing right where it is. Harry's

Her eyes met his coldly. "Are you afraid to let me judge between you? What did he do? Daren't you tell?"

Rowdy's lids drooped ominously. "If you call that a dare," he said grimly, "I'll tell you, fast enough. I was a

friend to him when he needed one mighty bad. I helped him when he was dead broke and out uh work. I kept

him going all winterand to show his gratitude, he gave me the doublecross, in more ways than one. I won't

go into details." He decided that he simply could not tell her bluntly that Harry had worked off stolen horses

"Ohyou won't go into details!" Scorn filled eyes and voice. "Are they so trivial, then? You tell me what

you did for Harryplaying Good Samaritan. Harry, let me tell you, has property of his own; I can't see why

he should ever be in need of charity. You're like all the rest; you hint things against himbut I believe it's

just jealousy. You can't come out honestly and tell me a single instance where he has harmed you, or done

"It wouldn't do any good to tell you," he retorted. "You think he's just lacking wings to be an angel. I hope to

God you'll always be able to think so! I'm sure I don't want to jar your faith."

"I must say your actions don't bear out your words. You've just been trying to turn me against him."

"I haven't. I've been trying to convince you that I want you, anyway, and Harry needn't come between us."

"In other words, you're willing to overlook my being Harry's sister. I appreciate your generosity, I'm sure."

"Then you won't overlook it? How very unfortunate! Because I can't help the relationship."

"I'm afraid we're getting off the trail," he amended tactfully. "I asked you, a while back, if you'd marry me."

"And I said I must hear both sides of your trouble with Harry, before I could answer."

"Not if I found he was guilty of all youinsinuate. I should be perfectly just." She really believed that.

"I can't help it. We'd never agree, or be happy. He'd keep on coming between us, whether we meant him to or

"Then there's no more to be said. Until you and Harry settle your difficulties amicably, or I am convinced that

he's in the wrong, we'll just be friends, Mr. Vaughan. Good afternoon." She rode into the Rodway yard,

feeling very just and virtuous, no doubt. But she left Rowdy with some rather unpleasant thoughts, and with a

Eagle Creek Smith had at last reached the point where he must face new conditions and change established

customs. He could no longer ignore the barrenness of the range, or close his eyes to the grim fact that his

cattle were facing starvationand that in June, when they should be taking on flesh.

When he finally did confess to himself that things couldn't go on like that, others had been before him in

leasing and buying land, until only the dry benches were left to him and his hungry herds.

But Eagle Creek was a man of resource. When the roundup pulled in and Wooden Shoes reported to him the

general state of the cattle, and told of the waterholes newly fenced and of creek bottoms gobbled by men

more farseeing than he, Eagle Creek took twentyfour hours to adjust himself to the situation and to meet the

crisis before him. His own land, as compared to his twenty thousand cattle, was too pitifully inadequate for a

When Rowdy rode apathetically up to the stable, Pink came out of the bunkhouse to meet him, big with

news. "Oh, doctor! We're up against it aplenty now," he greeted, with his dimples at their deepest.

"Forecasting the future," Pink retorted. "Eagle Creek has come alive, and has wised up sudden to the fact that

this ain't going t' be any Noah's flood brand uh summer, and that his cattle look like the tailings of a

washboard factory. He's got busyand we're sure going to. We're due t' hit the grit out uh here in the first

"But that's only the prelude, oldtimer. We've got t' take 'em across country to the Belknap reservation. Eagle

Creek went t' town and telegraphed, and got the refusal of it for pasturage; he ain't so slow, oncet he gets

started. But if you've ever rode over them driedup benches, you savvy the merry party we'll be when we git

"Belknap"Rowdy dropped his saddle spitefully to the ground"is where our friend Conroy has just gone

Pink thoughtfully blew the ashes from his cigarette. "Harry Conroy would fill one position fine. So one uh

these days I'll offer it to him. I don't know anybody that'd look nicer in a coffin than that jasperand if he's

"How'd yuh make out with Jessie?" Pink asked frankly, though he was not supposed to know where Rowdy

Rowdy knew from experience that it was useless trying to keep anything from Pink that Pink wanted to

know; besides, there was a certain comfort in telling his troubles to so stanch a friend. "Harry got his work in

there, too," he said bitterly. "He beat me to her and queered me for good, by the looks."

"Huh!" said Pink. "I wouldn't waste much time worrying over her, if she's that easy turned."

"She's all right," defended Rowdy quickly. "I don't know as I blame her; she takes the stand any sister would

take. She wants to know all about the troublehear both sides, she said, so she could judge which was to

blame. I guess she's got her heart set on being peacemaker. I know one thing: shelikes me, all right."

"I don't see how he queered yuh any, then," puzzled Pink. "She sure couldn't take his part after you'd told her

Rowdy turned on him savagely. "You little fool, do you think I told her? Right there's the trouble. He told his

"Youdidn'ttell!" Pink leaned against the stable and stared. "Rowdy Vaughan, there's times when even

your friend can't disguise the fact that yuh act plumb batty. Yuh let Harry do yuh dirt that any other man'd 'a'

killed him on bare suspicion uh doing; and yuh never told her when she asked yuh to! How yuh lent him

"Oh, cut it out!" Rowdy glowered down at him. "I guess I don't need to be reminded of all those things. But

are they the things a man can tell a girl about her brother? Pink, you're about as unfeeling a little devil as I

He turned away and stared unseeingly at the rim of hills that hid the place where she lived. She seemed very

far away from him just thenand very, very desirable. He thought then that he had never before realized just

"You can jest bet I'd 'a' told her!" gritted Pink, watching furtively Rowdy's averted face. "She ain't goin' t' be

bowed down by no load of ignorance much longer, either. If she don't get Harry Conroy's pedigree straight

But Rowdy, glooming among the debris of certain pet aircastles, neither heard nor wanted to hear Pink's

wrathful mutterings.As a matter of fact, it was not till Pink clattered out of the yard on Mascot that he

remembered where he was. Even then it did not occur to him to wonder where Pink was going.

Four thousand weary cattle crawled up the long ridge which divides Chin Coulee from Quitter Creek. Pink,

riding point, opposite the Silent One, twisted round in his saddle and looked back at the slowmoving river of

horns and backs veiled in a gray dustcloud. Down the line at intervals rode the others, humped listlessly in

their saddles, their hat brims pulled low over tired eyes that smarted with dust and wind and burning heat.

Pink sighed, and wished lonesomely that it was Rowdy riding point with him, instead of the Silent One, who

grew even more silent as the day dragged leadenly to midafternoon; Pink could endure anything better than

He took off his hat, pushed back his curlsdripping wet they were and flattened unbecomingly in pasty,

yellow rings on his foreheadand eyed with disfavor a linebacked, dry cow, with one horn tipped rakishly

toward her speckled nose; she blinked silently at wind and heat, and forged steadily ahead, uphill and down

coulee,always in the lead, always walking, walking, like an automaton. Her energy, in the face of all the dry,

dreary days, rasped Pink's nerves unbearably. For nearly a week he had ridden left point, and always that

linebacked cow with the downcrumpled horn walked and walked and walked, a length ahead of her most

He leaned from his saddle, picked up a rock from the barren, yellow hillside, and threw it at the cow

spitefully. The rock bounced off her lean rump; she blinked and broke into a shuffling trot, her dragging

"Aw, cut it out!" he shouted petulantly. "You're sure the limit, without doing any stunts at sprinting uphill.

Ain't yuh got any nerves, yuh blamed old skate? Yuh act like it was milkin'time, and yuh was headed

straight for the bars and a bran mash. Can't yuh realize the kind uh deal you're up against? Here's cattle that's

got you skinned for looks, old girl, and they know it's coming blamed tough; and you just bat your eyes and

peg along like yuh enjoyed it. Bawl, or something, can't yuh? Drop back a foot and act human!"

The Silent One looked across at him with a tired smile. "Let her go, Pink, and pray for more like her," he

Pink threw one leg over the horn and rode sidewise, made him a cigarette, and tried to forget the cowor, at

They were on the very peak of the ridge now, and the hill sloped smoothly down before them to the bluff

which bounded Quitter Creek. Far down, a tiny black speck in the couleebottom, they could see Wooden

Shoes riding along the creekbank, scouting for water. From the way he rode, and from the fact that camp

was nowhere in sight, Pink guessed shrewdly that his quest was in vain. He shrugged his shoulders at what

The marching line split at the brow of the bluff. The linebacked cow lowered her head a bit and went

unfaltering down the parched, gravelcoated hill, followed by a few hundred of the freshest. Then the stream

stopped flowing, and Pink and the Silent One rode back up the bluff to where the bulk of the footsore herd,

their senses dulled by hunger and weariness and choking thirst, sniffed at the gravel that promised agony to

their bruised feet, and balked at the ordeal. Others straggled up, bunched against the rebels, and stood stolidly

Pink galloped on down the crawling line. "Forward, the Standard Oil Brigade!" he yelled whimsically as he

The cowboys heardand understood. They left their places and went forward at a lope, and Pink rode back

to the coulee edge, untying his slicker as he went. The Silent One was already off his horse and shouting

hoarsely as he whacked with his slicker at the sulky mass. Pink rode in and did the same. It was not the first

time this thing had happened, and from a diversion it was verging closely on the monotonous. Presently, even

a rank tenderfoot must have caught the significance of Pink's military expression. The Standard Oil Brigade

Cowboys, swinging fivegallon oilcans, picked up from scattered sheep camps and carried many a weary

mile for just such an emergency, were charging the bunch intrepidly. Others made shift with flat sirupcans

with pebbles inside. A few, like Pink and the Silent One, flapped their slickers till their arms ached.

Anything, everything that would make a din and startle the cattle out of their lethargy, was pressed into

But they might have been raised in a barnyard and fed cabbage leaves from back doorsteps, for all the

excitement they showed. Cattle that three months agoor a monthwould run, head and tail high in air, at

sight of a man on foot, backed away from a rattling, banging cube of gleaming tin, turned and faced the thing

In time, however, they gave way dogedly before the onslaught. A few were forced shrinkingly down the hill;

others followed gingerly, until the line lengthened and flowed, a sluggish, brownred stream, into the coulee

Here the leaders were browsing greedily along the banks. They had emptied the few holes that had still held a

meager store of brackish water and so the mutinous bulk of the herd snuffed at the trampled, muddy spots and

Wooden Shoes rode up and surveyed the half maddened animals gloomily. "Push 'em on, boys," he said.

"They's nothings for 'em here. I've sent the wagons on to Red Willow; we'll try that next. Push 'em along all

With tincans, slickers, and much vituperation, they forced the herd up the coulee side and strung them out

again on trail. The linebacked cow walked and walked in the lead before Pink's querulous gaze, and the

others plodded listlessly after. The gray dustcloud formed anew over their slowmoving backs, and the

cowboys humped over in their saddles and rode and rode, with the hot sun beating aslant in their dirtgrimed

If this had been the first herd to make that dreary trip, things would not have been quite so disheartening. But

it was the third. Seven thousand lean kine had passed that way before them, eating the scant grass growth and

The Cross L boys, on this third trip, were become a jaded lot of holloweyed men, whose nerves were rasped

raw with long hours and longer days in the saddle. Pink's cheeks no longer made his name appropriate, and

he was not the only one who grew fretful over small things. Rowdy had been heard, more than once lately, to

anathematize viciously the prairiedogs for standing on their tails and chipchipchipping at them as they

went by. And though the Silent One did not swear, he carried rocks in his pockets, and threw them with

venomous precision at every "dog" that showed his impertinent nose out of a burrow within range. For Pink,

The cattle balked at another hill, and all the tincans and slickers in the crowd could scarcely move them. The

wind dropped with the sun, and the clouds glowed gorgeously above them, getting scant notice, except that

they told eloquently of the coming night; and there were yet mileslong, rough, heartbreaking milesto put

behind them before they could hope for the things their tired bodies craved: supper and dreamless sleep.

When the last of the herd had sidled, under protest, down the long hill to the flat, dusk was pushing the

horizon closer upon them, mile by mile. When they crawled sinuously out upon the welcome level, the hill

loomed ghostly and black behind them. A mile out, Wooden Shoes rode out of the gloom and met the point.

"Red Willow's dry as hellall but in the Rockin' R field. No use askin' ole Mullen to let us in there; we'll just

go. I sent the wagons through the fence, an' yuh'll find camp about a mile up from the mouth uh the big

coulee. You swing 'em round the end uh this bench, an' hit that big coulee at the head. When you come t' the

"All right," said Pink cheerfully. It was in open defiance of range etiquette; but their need was desperate. The

only thing about it Pink did not like was the long detour they must make. He called the news across to the

Silent One, after Wooden Shoes had gone on down the line, and they swung the point gradually to the left.

Before that drive was over, Pink had vowed many times to leave the range forever and never to turn another

cowbesides a good many other foolish things which would be forgotten, once he had a good sleep. And

Rowdy, plodding halfway down the herd, had grown exceedingly pessimistic regarding Jessie Conroy, and

decided that there was no sense in thinking about her all the time, the way he had been doing. Also, he told

himself savagely that if Harry ever crossed his trail again, there would be something doing. This thing of

letting a cur like that run roughshod over a man on account of a girl that didn't care was plumb idiotic. And

beside him the cattle walked and walked and walked, a dim, moving mass in the quiet July night.

It was late next morning when they got under way; for they had not reached camp until long after midnight,

and Wooden Shoes was determined the cattle should have one good feed, and all the water they wanted, to

Pink rode out with Rowdy to the herda heavylidded, gloomy Rowdy he was, and not amiably inclined

toward the small talk of the range. But Pink had slept five whole hours and was almost his normal self; which

"That's what I thought. Studying up the nicest way uh giving brotherinlaw the glad hand, ain't yuh?"

"He's no relation uh mineand never will be," said Rowdy curtly. "And I'll thank you, Pink, to drop that

"Down she goes," assented Pink, quite unperturbed. "But the cards ain't all turned yet, yuh want to remember,

I wouldn't pass on no hand like you've got. If I wanted a girl right bad, Rowdy, I'd wait till I got refused

"Seems to me you've changed your politics lately," Rowdy retorted. "A while back you was cussing the

whole business; and now you're worse than an old maid aunt. Pink, you may not be wise to the fact, but you

"Did yuh? All right, thenonly I hope yuh didn't leave your gun packed away in your bed," he insinuated.

Pink laughed in a particularly infectious way he had, and, before he quite knew it, Rowdy was laughing, also.

After that the world did not look quite so forlorn as it had, nor the day's work so distasteful. So Pink, having

"There's old Liney"he pointed her out to Rowdy"fresh as a meadowlark. I had a big grouch against her

yesterday, just because she batted her eyes and kept putting one foot ahead uh the other. I could 'a' killed her.

But she's all right, that old girl. The way she led out down that black coulee last night wasn't slow! Say, she's

an ambitious old party. I wish you was riding point with me, Rowdy. The Silent One talks just about as much

"Oh, go on to work," Rowdy admonished. "You make me think of a magpie." All the same, he looked after

him with smiling lips, and eyes that forgot their gloom. He even whistled while he helped round up the

Every man in the outfit comforted himself with the thought that it was the last day's drive. After long weeks

of trailing lean herds over barren, windbrushed hills, the last day meant much to them. Even the Silent One

sang something they had never heard before, about "If Only I Knew You Were True."

They crossed the Rocking R field, took down four panels of fence, passed out, and carefully put them up

again behind them. Before them stretched level plain for two miles; beyond that a high, rocky ridge that

promised some trouble with the herd, and after that more plain and a couleee or two, and then, on a far

The cattle were rested and fed, and walked out briskly; the ridge neared perceptibly. Pink's shrill whistle

carried far back down the line and mingled pleasantly with voices calling to one another across the herd. Not

a man was humped listlessly in his saddle; instead, they rode with shoulders back and hats at divers jaunty

The herd steadily climbed the ridge, choosing the smoothest path and the easiest slope. Pink assured the

linebacked cow that she was a peach, and told her to "go to it, old girl." The Silent One's pockets were quite

empty of rocks, and the prairiedogs chipped and flirted their funny little tails unassailed. And Rowdy, from

wondering what had made Pink change his attitude so abruptly, began to plan industriously the next meeting

with Jessie Conroy, and to build a new castle that was higher and airier than any he had ever before

attemptedand perhaps had a more flimsy foundation; for it rested precariously on Pink's idle remarks.

The point gained the top of the ridge, and Pink turned and swung his hat jubilantly at the others. The

reservation was in sight, though it lay several miles distant. But in that clear air one could distinguish the line

fenceif one had the eye of faith and knew just where to look. Presently he observed a familiar horseman

"Eagle Creek's coming," he shouted to the man behind. "Come alive, there, and don't let 'em roam all over the

Those who heard laughed; no one ever dreamed of being offended at what Pink said. Those who had not

heard had the news passed on to them, in various forms. Wooden Shoes, who had been loitering in the rear

Eagle Creek urged his horse up the last steep place, right in the face of the leaders, which halted and tried to

"Wwhat?" Pink stopped short and eyed him critically. Eagle Creek could not justly be called a teetotaler;

but Pink had never known him to get worse than a bit wobbly in his legs; his mind had never fogged

perceptibly. Still, something was wrong with him, that was certain. Pink glanced dubiously across at the

Eagle Creek rode up and stopped within ten feet of the linebacked cow; she seemed hurt at being held up in

"T' hell, I guess. It's the only place I know of where everybody's welcome." Eagle Creek's tone was not

"We just came from there," Pink said simply, thinking of the horrors of that drive.

"Where's Wooden Shoes?" snapped the old man; and the foreman's hatcrown appeared at that instant over

"Well, we're up against it," Eagle Creek greeted. "That damn' agentor the fellow he had workin' for

himreported his renting us pasture. Made the report read about twice as many as we're puttin' on. He's got

"That's Harry Conroy's work," Pink cut in sharply' "He'd hurt the Cross L if he could, t' spite me and Rowdy.

"Don't matterseein' it's done. Yuh might as well turn the herd loose right here, an' let 'em go t' the devil. I

"Anything gone wrong?" It was Rowdy, who had left his place and ridden forward to see what was holding

"Naw. We're fired off the reservation, is all. We got orders to take the herd to hell. Eagle Creek's leased it.

Mr. Satan is going to keep house here in Montana; he says it's better for his trade," Pink informed him, in his

Eagle Creek turned on him fiercely, then thought better of it and grinned. "Them arrangements wouldn't

"Man, if yuh turn 'em loose here, the first storm that hits 'em, they all die," Wooden Shoes interposed

excitedly. "They ain't nothings for 'em. We had t' turn 'em into the Rockin' R field last night, t' git water an'

feed. Red Willow's gone dry outside dat field. They ain'tnothings. They'll die!"

Eagle Creek looked at him dully. For the first time in his life he faced utter ruin. "Damn 'em, let 'em die,

"That's what they'll sure do," Wooden Shoes reiterated stubbornly. "If they don't git feed and water now, yuh

Pink's eyes went down over the closehuddled backs and the thicket of polished horns, and his eyelids stung.

Would all of them die, he wondered! Four thousand! He hoped not. There must be some way out. Down the

hill, he knew the cowboys were making cigarettes while they waited and wondered mightily what it was all

about If they only knew, he thought, there would be more than one rope ready for Harry Conroy.

"How about the Peck reservation? Couldn't you get them on there?" Rowdy ventured.

"Not a hoof!" growled Eagle Creek, with his chin sunk against his chest. "There's thirty thousand Valley

County cattle on there now." He looked down at the cattle, as Pink had done. "God! It's bad enough t' go

broke," he groaned; "but t' think uh them poor brutes dyin' off in bunches, for want uh grass an' water! I've

Rowdy rode closer. "If you don't mind paying duty," he began tentatively, "I can put you next to a range over

the line, where I'll guarantee feed and water the year round for every hoof you own."

Eagle Creek lifted his head and looked at him "Whereabouts?" he demanded skeptically.

"Up in the Red Deer country. Pink knows the place. There's range aplenty, and creeks running through that

"Sure notif you paid duty, which would only be about double what you were going to pay for one year's

Eagle Creek breathed deeply, like a man who has narrowly escaped suffocation. "Young man, I b'lieve you're

a square dealer, and that yuh savvy the cow business. I've thought it ever since yuh started t' work." His keen

old eyes twinkled at the memory of Rowdy's arrival, and Rowdy grinned. "I take yuh at your word, and yuh

can consider yourself in charge uh this herd as it stands. Take it t' that cow heaven yuh tell aboutand damn

"We'll pass that up," said Rowdy quietly. "I'll take the herd through, though; and I'd advise you to get the rest

"All right. From now on it's up to you," Eagle Creek told him briskly. "Take 'em back t' the Rockin' R field,

and I'll send the wagons back t' you. Old Mullen'll likely make a roarbut that's most all gove'ment land he's

"Well, I'll give yuh some blank checks, an' you can load up with grub and anything else yuh need. I'll be over

there by the time you are, and fix up that duty business. Wooden Shoes'll have t' get another outfit together,

and get another bunch on the trail. One good thingI got thirty days t' get off what cattle is on there; and

thirty days uh grass and water'll put 'em in good shape for the trip. Wish this bunch was as well fixed."

"Sure not!" laughed Rowdy. "Only I'll want Pink and the Silent One to stay with me."

"I don't think of anything," said Rowdy. "Only I'd like to have atalkwith Conroy." Creek eyed him

sharply. "Yuh won't be apt t' meet him. Old Bill Brown, up home, would like to see him, too. Bill's a

perseverin' old cuss, and wants to see Conroy so bad he's got the sheriff out lookin' for him. It's about a bunch

uh horses that was run off, three years ago. Yuh brought one of 'em back into the country last spring, yuh

"Old Bill, he follered your back trail and found out some things he wanted t' know. Conroy got wind of it,

"Then we're ready to hit the grit, I guess." Rowdy glanced again at Pink who nodded.

"Well, I ain't stoppin' yuh," Eagle Creek drawled laconically. "S'long, and good luck t' yuh."

He waited while Pink and the Silent One swung the point back down the hill, with Rowdy helping them,

quite unmoved by his sudden promotion. When the herd was fairly started on the backward march, Eagle

"He's all right," he asserted emphatically. "That boy suits me, from the ground up. If he don't put that deal

Wooden Shoes, with whom Rowdy had always been a prime favorite, agreed with Dutch heartiness. Then,

leaving the herd to its new guardian they rode swiftly to overtake and turn back the wagons.

"Three hundred miles! And part of it across howling desert!" Rowdy drew his brows together. "It's a big thing

for me, all right, Pink; but it's sure a big contract to take this herd through, if anybody should happen to ask

"Oh, buck up! You'll make good, all rightif only these creeks wasn't so bone dry!"

"Well, there's water enough in the Rocking R field for today; we'll throw 'em in there till tomorrow. And

I've a notion I can find a better trail across to North Fork than the way we came. I'm going to strike out this

afternoon and see, anyway, if Quitter Creek hasn't got water farther up. Once we get up north uh the home

"Go to it, boss," Pink cried heartily. "I don't see how I'm goin t' keep from sassing yuh, once in a while,

though. That's what bothers me. What'll happen if I turn loose on yuh, some time?"

"You'll get fired, I expect," laughed Rowdy, and rode off to announce the news to the rest of the outfit, who

If their reception of the change of plans and foreman was a bit profane, and their manner toward him a bit

familiar, Rowdy didn't mind. He knew that they did not grudge him his good luck, even while they hated the

long drive. He also knew that they watched him furtively; for nothingnot even misfortuneis as sure a

test of a man's character as success. They liked Rowdy, and they did not believe this would spoil him; still,

On the trail, he rode in his accustomed place, and, so far as appearances went, the party had no foreman. He

went forward and helped Pink take down the fence that had been so carefully put up a few hours before, and

he whistled while he put it in place again, just as if he had no responsibility in the world. Then the cattle were

left to themselves, and the men rode down to their old campground, marked by empty tincans and a trodden

Rowdy swung down and faced the men gravely. Instinctively they stood at attention, waiting for what he had

to say; they felt that the situation was so far out of the ordinary that a few remarks pertaining to their new

He looked them over appraisingly, and met glances as grave as his own. Straight, capable fellows they were,

"Boys," he began impressively, "you all know that from today on you're working under my orders. I never

was boss of anything but the cayuse I happened to have under me, and I'm going to extract all the honey there

is in the situation. Maybe I'll never be boss againbut at present I'm it. I want you fellows to remember that

important fact, and treat me with proper respect. From now on you can call me Mr. Vaughan; 'Rowdy' doesn't

"Furthermore, I'm not going to get out at daylight and catch up my own horse; I'll let yuh take turns being

flunky, and I'll expect yuh to saddle my horse every morning and noon, and bring him to the cooktentand

hold my stirrup for me. Also, you are expected, at all times and places, to anticipate my wants and fall over

yourselves waiting on me. "You're just common, ordinary, fortydollar cowpunchers, and if I treat yuh

white, it's because I pity yuh for not being up where I am. Remember, vassals, that I'm your superior,

"Chap him!" yelled Pink, and made for him "I'll stand for a lot, but don't yuh ever think I'm a vassal!"

"Mutiny is strictly prohibited!" he thundered. "Villains, beware! Gadzookserlet's have a swim before the

They laughed and made for the creek, feeling rather crestfallen and a bit puzzled.

"If I had an outfit like this to run, and a three hundredmile drive to make," Bob Nevin remarked to the Silent

One, "blessed if I'd make a josh of it! I'd cultivate the corrugated brow and the stiff spineme!"

"My friend," the Silent One responded, "don't be too hasty in your judgment. It's because the corrugated brow

will come later that he laughs now. You'll presently find yourself accomplishing the impossible in obedience

to the flicker of Rowdy Vaughan's eyelids. Man, did you never observe the set of his head, and the look of his

eye? Rowdy Vaughan will get more out of this crowd than any man ever did; and if he fails, he'll fail with the

"Maybe so," Bob admitted, not quite convinced; "but I wonder if he realizes what he's up against." At which

After dinner Rowdy caught up the blue roan, which was his favorite for a hard ridehe seemed to have

forgotten his speech concerning "flunkies"and rode away up the coulee which had brought them into the

field the night before. The boys watched him go, speculated a lot, and went to sleep as the best way of putting

Pink, who knew quite well what was in Rowdy's mind, said nothing at all; it is possible that he was several

degrees more jealous of the dignity of Rowdy's position than was Rowdy himself, who had no time to think

of anything but the best way of getting the herd to Canada. He would like to have gone along, only that

Rowdy did not ask him to. Pink assured himself that it was best for Rowdy not to start playing any favorites,

It was late that night when Rowdy crept silently into his corner of the tent; but Pink was awake, and

whispered to know if he found water. Rowdy's "Yes" was a mere breath, but it was enough.

At sunrise the herd trailed up the Rocking R coulee, and Pink and the Silent One pointed them north of the

In the days that followed Rowdy was much alone. There was water to hunt, far ahead of the herd, together

with the most practicable way of reaching it. He did not take the shortest way across that arid country and

leave the next day's campingplace to chanceas Wooden Shoes had done. He felt that there was too much

at stake, and the cattle were too thin for any more dry drives; long drives there were, but such was his

He rode miles and miles that he might have shirked, and he never slept until the next day's move, at least, was

clearly defined in his mind and he felt sure that he could do no better by going another route.

These lonely rides gave him over to the clutch of thoughts he had never before harbored in his sunny nature.

Grim, ugly thoughts they were, and not nice to remember afterward. They swung persistently around a central

subject, as the earth revolves around the sun; and, like the earth, they turned and turned on the axis of his love

In particularly ugly moods he thought that if Harry Conroy were caught and convicted of horsestealing, Jessie

must perforce admit his guilt and general unworthinessRowdy called it general cussednessand Rowdy

be vindicated in her eyes. Then she would marry him, and go with him to the Red Deer country

andaircastles for miles! When he awoke to the argument again, he would tell himself savagely that if he

This was unlike Rowdy, whose generous charity toward his enemies came near being a fault. He might feel

any amount of resentment for wrong done, but coldblooded revenge was not in him; that he had suffered so

much at Conroy's hands was due largely to the fact that Conroy was astute enough to read Rowdy aright, and

unscrupulous enough to take advantage. Add to that a smallminded jealousy of Rowdy's popularity and

horsemanship, one can easily imagine him doing some rather nasty things. Perhaps the meanest, and the one

which rankled most in Rowdy's memory, was the cutting of Rowdy's latigo just before a riding contest, in

which the purse and the glory of a championshipbelt seemed in danger of going to Rowdy.

Rowdy had got a fall that crippled him for weeks, and Harry had won the purse and beltand the enmity of

several men better than he. For though morally sure of his guilt, no one could prove that he had cut the strap,

and so he got off unpunished, except that Pink thrashed hima bit unscientifically, it is true, since he

resorted to throwing rocks toward the last, but with a thoroughness worthy even of Pink.

But in moods less ugly he shrank from the hurt that must be Jessie's if she should discover the truth. Jessie's

brother a convicted thief serving his sentence in Deer Lodge! The thought was horrible; it was brutal cruelty.

If he could only know where to look for that lad, he'd help him out of the country. It was no good shutting

him up in jail; that wouldn't help him any, or make him better. He hoped he would get offgo somewhere,

He wondered where he was, and if he had money enough to see him through. He might be no goodhe sure

wasn't!but he was Jessie's brother, and Jessie believed in him and thought a lot of him. It would be hard

lines for that little girl if Harry were caught. Bill Brown, the meddlesome old freak!he didn't blame Jessie

With all this going round and round, monotonously persistent in his brain, and with the care of four thousand

lean kine and more than a hundred saddlehorsesto say nothing of a dozen overworked, fretful

cowpunchersRowdy acquired the "corrugated brow" fast enough without any cultivation.

The men were as the Silent One had predicted. They made drives that lasted far into the night, stood guard,

and got along with so little sleep that it was scarce worth mention, and did many things that shaved close the

impossiblejust because Rowdy looked at them straightly, with halfclosed lids, and asked them if they

Pink began to speak of their new foreman as "Moses"; and when the curious asked him why, told them

soberly that Rowdy could "hit a rock with his quirt and start a creek running bank full." When Rowdy heard

They had left the home ranch a day's drive behind them, and were going north. Rowdy had denied himself the

luxury of riding over to see Jessie, and he was repenting the sacrifice in deep gloom and sincerity, when two

men rode into camp and dismounted, as if they had a right. The taller onewith brawn and brain aplenty,

by the look of himannounced that he was the sheriff, and would like to stop overnight.

Rowdy gave him welcome halfheartedly, and questioned him craftily. A sheriff is not a detective, and does

not mind giving harmless information; so Rowdy learned that they had traced Conroy thus far, and believed

that he was ahead of them and making for Canada. He had dodged them cleverly two or three times, but now

they had reason to believe that he was not more than half a day's ride before them. They wanted to know if

the outfit had seen any one that day, or sign of any one having passed that way.

"I bet it was Harry Conroy driving that little bunch uh horses up the creek, just as we come over the ridge,"

Rowdy could have choked him. "He wouldn't be driving a lot of horses," he interposed quickly.

"Well, he might," argued Pink. "If I was making a quick getaway, and my horse was about played outlike

his was apt t' beI'd sure round up the first bunch I seen, and catch me a fresh oneif I was a horsethief.

The sheriff had put down his cup of coffee. "Is there any place where a man could corral a bunch on the

"Yes, there is. There's an old corral up at the fordDrowning Ford, they call itthat I'd use, if it was me. It

was an old line camp, and there's a cabin. It's down on the flat by the creek, and it's as Godforsaken a place

as a man'd want t' hide in, or t' change mounts." Pink hitched up his chapbelt and looked across at Rowdy. He

was aching for a sight of Harry Conroy in handcuffs, and he was certain that Rowdy felt the same. "If it was

me," he added speculatively, "and I thought I was far enough in the lead, I'd stop there till morning."

Pink told him he guessed it was five miles. Whereupon the sheriff announced his intention of going up there

at once, and Pink hinted rather strongly that he would like to go with them. The sheriff did not know Pink; he

looked down at his slimness and at the yellow fringe of curls showing under his hat brim, at his pink cheeks

Pink asked him politely, but rather stiffly, what there was funny about it. The sheriff laughed louder and

longer; then, being the sort of man who likes a joke now and then, even in the way of business, he solemnly

deputized Pink, and patted him on the shoulder and told him gravely that they couldn't possibly do without

It looked for a minute as if Pink were going at him with his fistsbut he didn't. He reflected that one must

not offer violence to an officer of the law, and that, being made a deputy, he would have to go, anyway; so he

Even in the dusk they could see where a band of horses had been driven at a gallop along the creek bank.

When they neared the place it was dark. Pink pulled up and spoke for the first time since leaving the tent.

"We better tie up our horses here and walk," he said, quite unconscious of the fact that he was usurping the

But the sheriff was old at the business, and not too jealous of his position. He signed to his deputy proper, and

When they started on, Pink was ahead. The sheriff observed that Pink's gun still swung in its scabbard at his

hip, and he grinnedbut that was because he didn't know Pink. That the gun swung at his hip would have

been quite enough for any one who did know him; it didn't take Pink all day to get into action

Ten rods from the corral, which they could distinguish as a black blotch in the sparse willow growth, Pink

turned and stopped them. "I know the layout here," he whispered. "I'll just sneak ahead and rubber around.

The sheriff had never before been called a Rubeto his face, at least. The audacity took his breath; and

when he opened his mouth for scathing speech, Pink was not there. He had slipped away, like a slim, elusive

shadow, and the sheriff did not even know the exact direction of his going. There was nothing for it but to

In five minutes Pink appeared with a silent suddenness that startled them more than they would like to own.

"He's somewheres around," he announced, in a murmur that would not carry ten feet. "He's got a horse in the

corral, and, from the sound, he's got him all saddled; and the gate's tied shut with a rope."

"Felt of it, yuh chump. He's turned the bunch loose and kept up a fresh one, like I said he would. It's blame

dark, but I could see the horsea big white devil. It's him yuh hear makin' all that racket. If he gits away

"Well, we didn't come for a chinwhackin' bee," snapped the sheriff. "I come out here t' git him."

Pink gritted his teeth again, and wished the sheriff was just a man, so he could lick him. He led them forward

The sheriff circled warily the corral, peered through the rails at the great white horse that ran here and there,

whinnying occasionally for the band, and heard the creak of leather and the rattle of the bit. Pink was right;

"Maybe he's in the cabin," he whispered, coming up where Pink stood listening tensely at all the little night

sounds. Pink turned and crept silently to the right, keeping in the deepest shade, while the others followed

willingly. They were beginning to see the great advantage of having Pink along, even if he had called them

The cabin door yawned wide open, and creaked weirdly as the light wind moved it; the interior was black and

silentsuspiciously silent, in the opinion of the sheriff. He waited for some time before venturing in, fearing

an ambush. Then he caught the flicker of a shielded match, called out to Conroy to surrender, and leveled his

There was no answer but the faint shuffle of stealthy feet on the board floor. The sheriff called another

warning, cocked his gunand came near shooting Pink, who walked composedly out of the door into the

sheriff's astonished face. The sheriff had been sure that Pink was just behind him.

"He ain't here," said Pink simply. "I crawled in the window and hunted the place over."

The sheriff glared at him dumbly; he could not reconcile Pink's daredevil behavior with Pink's innocent,

"I tell yuh the corral's what we want t' keep cases on," Pink added insistently. "He's sure somewheres

aroundI'd gamble on it. He saddled that horse t' git away on. That horse is sure the key t' this situation,

He made his way quietly to the back of the corral, inwardly much amused at the tractability of the sheriff,

Pink squatted comfortably in the shade of a willow and wished he dared indulge in a cigarette, and wondered

Fifty feet away the big white horse still circled round and round, rattling his bridle impatiently and shaking

the saddle in an occasional access of rage, and whinnying lonesomely out into the gloom.

So they waited and waited, and peered into the shadows, and listened to the trampling horse fretting for

The cook had just called breakfast when Pink dashed up to the tent, flung himself from his horse, and

confronted Rowdya holloweyed, haggard Rowdy who had not slept all night, and whose eyes questioned

Pink leaned against his horse, with one hand reaching up and gripping tightly the horn of the saddle. His

"They're bringin' him t' camp," he answered huskily. "We found a horsea big white horse they call the Fern

Outlaw"the Silent One started and came closer, listening intently; evidently he knew the horse"saddled

in the corral, and the gate tied shut. We dubbed around a while, but we didn't findHarry. So we camped

down by the corral and waited. We set there all nightand the horse faunching around inside something

fierce. Whenit come daybreakI seen somethingby the fence, inside. It wasHarry." Pink shivered

and moistened his dry lips. "That Fern Outlawsome uh the boys knowis a devil t' mount. He'd got Harry

downhell, Rowdy! itit was sureawful. He'd been there all nightand that horse stomping. "

"Shut up!" Rowdy turned all at once deathly sick. He had once seen a man who had been trampled by a

maddened, mankilling horse. It had not been a pretty sight. He sat down weakly and covered his face with

Pink lifted his head from where it had fallen upon his arm. "One thing, RowdyI done. You can tell Jessie. I

"You'll have to take the herd on," he told Pink in his masterful way. "I'll catch you tomorrow some time. I've

got to go back and tell Jessie. You know the trail I was going to takestraight across to Wild Horse Lake.

From there you strike across to North Forkand if I don't overtake you on the way, I'll hit camp some time

Miss Conroy was rather listlessly endeavoring to persuade the First Reader class that "catch" should not be

pronounced "ketch," when she saw Rowdy ride past the window. Intuition of something amiss sent her to the

"Can't you give the kids a day off?" he began, without preface. "I've got such a lot to talk aboutand I don't

come very often." He thought that his tone was perfectly natural; but all the same she turned white. He rode

on to a little tree and tied his horsenot that it was necessary to tie him, but to avoid questions.

Miss Conroy went in and dismissed the children, although it was only fifteen minutes after nine. They

gathered up their lunchpails and straggled out reluctantly, roundeyed, and curious. Rowdy waited until the

last one had gone before he went in. Miss Conroy sat in her chair on the platform, and she was still white;

Rowdy stopped halfway down the aisle and stared. "How did you know they wereafter him?"

"He came to me night before last, andtold me." She bit her lip, took firm hold on her honesty and her

courage, and went on steadily. "He came because hewanted money. I've wanted to see you since, to tell

you thatI misjudged you. I know all about yourtrouble, and I want you to know that I think you

arethat you did quite right. You are to understand that I cannot honestly upholdHarry. He isnot the

Rowdy went clanking forward till only the table stood between. "Did he tell you?" he demanded, in a curious,

"No, he did not. He denied everything. It was Pink. He told me long agothat evening, just after youthe

last time I saw you. I told him helied. I tried not to believe it, but I did. Pink knew I would; he said so. The

other night I asked Harry aboutthose things he did to you. He lied to me. I'd have forgiven himbut he

"Hush!" Rowdy threw out a gloved hand quickly. He could not bear to let her go on like that.

She looked up at him, and all at once she was shaking. "There's somethingtell me!"

"They didn't take him," he said slowly, weighing each word and looking down at her pityingly "They never

will. Hehad an accident. A horsefell with himandhe was dead when they picked him up." It was as

merciful a version as he could make it, but the words choked him, even then. "Girlie!" He went around and

After a long while he spoke again, smoothing her hair absently, and never noticing that he had not taken off

"Perhaps, girlie, it's for the best. We couldn't have saved him fromthe other; and that would have been

worse, don't you think? We'll forget all but the good in him"he could not help thinking that there would not

be much to remember"and I'll get a little home ready, and come back and get you before snow

"Maybe you haven't heardbut Eagle Creek has made me foreman of his outfit that's going to Canada. It's a

good position. I can make you comfortable, girlieand happy. Anyway, I'll try, mighty hard. You'll be ready

Miss Conroy raised her face, all tearstained, but, with the light of happiness fighting the sorrow in her eyes,

nodded just enough to make the movement perceptible, and settled her head to a more comfortable