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him when he hunted him up at Rusty Brown's and gave it to him；
and the horse of Andy bore mute testimony to the speed with which
he had brought it to the ranch。 Not until he had reached the
coulee had he slackened his pace。 He decided； after that glance；
that he would not remind her that she had not read the telegram；
instead； he thought he ought to find Chip immediately and send
him to her。
Chip was rummaging after something in the store…house； and； when
Andy saw him there； he dismounted and stood blotting out the
light from the doorway。 Chip looked up； said 〃Hello〃 carelessly；
and flung an old slicker aside that he might search beneath it。
〃Back early； aren't you？〃 he asked； for sake of saying something。
Andy's attitude was not as casual as he would have had it。
〃Say； maybe you better go on up to the house；〃 he began
diffidently。 〃I guess your wife wants to see yuh； maybe。〃
〃Just as a good wife should；〃 grinned Chip。 〃What's the matter？
Kid fall off the porch？〃
〃N…o…oI brought out a wire from Chicago。 It's from a doctor
theresome hospital。 TheOld Man got hurt。 One of them cussed
automobiles knocked him down。 They want you to come。〃
Chip had straightened up and was hooking at Andy blankly。 〃If
you're just〃
〃Honest；〃 Andy asserted； and flushed a little。 〃I'll go tell some
one to catch up the teamyou'll want to make that 11：20； I take
it。〃 He added； as Chip went by him hastily； 〃I had the agent wire
for sleeper berths on the 11：20 so〃
〃Thanks。 Yes； you have the team caught up； Andy。〃 Chip was
already well on his way to the house。
Andy waited till he saw the Little Doctor come hurriedly to the
end of the porch overlooking the pathway； with the telegram
fluttering in her fingers； and then led his horse down through
the gate and to the stable。 He yanked the saddle off； turned the
tired animal into a stall； and went on to the corral； where he
leaned elbows on a warped rail and peered through at the turmoil
within。 Close beside him stood Weary； with his loop dragging
behind him； waiting for a chance to throw it over the head of a
buckskin three…year…old with black mane and tail。
〃Get in here and make a hand； why don't you？〃 Weary bantered； his
eye on the buckskin。 〃Good chance to make a 'rep' for yourself；
Andy。 Gawd greased that buckskinhe sure can slide out from
under a rope as easy〃
He broke off to flip the hoop dexterously forward； had the reward
of seeing the buckskin dodge backward； so that the rope barely
flicked him on the nose； and drew in his rope disgustedly。 〃Come
on； Andymy hands are up in the air； I can't land him that's
the fourth throw。〃
Andy's interest in the buckskin； however； was scant。 His face was
sober； his whole attitude one of extreme dejection。
〃You got the tummy…ache？〃 Pink inquired facetiously； moving
around so that he got a fair look at his face。
〃Nawhis girl's went back on him！〃 Happy Jack put in； coiling
his rope as he came up。
〃Oh； shut up！〃 Andy's voice was sharp with trouble。 〃Boys； the
Old Man'swell； he's most likely dead by this time。 I brought
out a telegram〃
〃Go on！〃 Pink's eyes widened incredulously。 〃Don't you try that
kind of a load； Andy Green； or I'll just about〃
〃Oh； you fellows make me sick！〃 Andy took his elbows off the rail
and stood straight。 〃Dammit； the telegram's up at the housego
and read it yourselves； then！〃
The three stared after him doubtfully； fear struggling with the
caution born of much experience。
〃He don't act； to me； like he was putting up a josh；〃 Weary
stated uneasily； after a minute of silence。 〃Run up to the house
and find out； Cadwalloper。 The Old Manoh； good Lord！〃 The tan
on Weary's face took a lighter tinge。 〃Scootit won't take but a
minute to find out for sure。 Go on； Pink。〃
〃So help me Josephine； I'll kill that same Andy Green if he's
lied about it；〃 Pink declared； while he climbed the fence。
In three minutes he was back； and before he had said a word； his
face confirmed the bad news。 Their eyes besought him for details；
and he gave them jerkily。 〃Automobile run over him。 He ain't
dead； but they thinkChip and the Little Doctor are going to
catch the night train。 You go haze in the team； Happy。 And give
'em a feed of oats； Chip said。〃
Irish and Big Medicine； seeing the； three standing soberly
together there； and sensing something unusual； came up and heard
the news in stunned silence。 Andy； forgetting his pique at their
first disbelief； came forlornly back and stood with them。
The Old Manthe thing could not be true！ To every man of them
his presence； conjured by the impending tragedy； was almost a
palpable thing。 His stocky figure seemed almost to stand in their
midst； he looked at them with his whimsical eyes； which had the
radiating crows…feet of age； humor and habitual squinting against
sun and wind； the bald spot on his head； the wrinkling
shirt…collar that seldom knew a tie； the carpet slippers which
were his favorite footgear because they were kind to his bunions；
his husky voice； good…naturedly complaining； were poignantly real
to them at that moment。 Then Irish mentally pictured him lying
maimed； dying； perhaps； in a far…off hospital among strangers；
and swore。
〃If he's got to die； it oughta be here； where folks know him
andwhere he knows〃 Irish was not accustomed to giving voice
to his deeper feelings； and he blundered awkwardly over it。
〃I never did go much on them darned hospitals； anyway；〃 Weary
observed gloomily。 〃He oughta be home； where folks can look after
him。 Mam…ma！ It sure is a fright。〃
〃I betche Chip and the Little Doctor won't get there in time；〃
Happy Jack predicted； with his usual pessimism。 〃The Old Man's
gittin' old〃
〃He ain't but fifty…two； yuh call that old； consarn yuh？ He's
younger right now than you'll be when you're forty。〃
〃Countess is going along； too； so she can ride herd on the Kid；〃
Pink informed then。 〃I heard the Little Doctor tell her to pack
up； and 'never mind if she did have sponge all set！' Countess
seemed to think her bread was a darned sight more important than
the Old Man。 That's the way with women。 They'll pass up〃
〃Well； by golly； I like to see a woman take some interest in her
own affairs；〃 Slim defended。 〃What they packin' up for； and where
they goin'？〃 Slim had just ridden up to the group in time to
overhear Pink's criticism。
They told him the news； and Slim swallowed twice； said 〃By
golly！〃 quite huskily； and then rode slowly away with his head
bowed。 He had worked for the Flying U when it was strictly a
bachelor outfit； and with the tenacity of slow minds he held J。
G。 Whitmore； his beloved 〃Old Man；〃 as but a degree lower than
that mysterious power which made the sun to shineand； if the
truth were known； he had accepted him as being quite as eternal。
His loyalty adjusted everything to the interests of the Flying U。
That the Old Man could diethe