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good turns you've done this village！ Milt； old Al doesn't
approve of your wild life； but he never had no hard feelin's
till thet tame lion of yours killed so many of his sheep。〃
〃Auntie； I don't believe Tom ever killed Al's sheep；〃
declared Dale； positively。
〃Wal； Al thinks so； an' many other people；〃 replied Mrs。
Cass； shaking her gray head doubtfully。 〃You never swore he
didn't。 An' there was them two sheep…herders who did swear
they seen him。〃
〃They only saw a cougar。 An' they were so scared they ran。〃
〃Who wouldn't？ Thet big beast is enough to scare any one。
For land's sakes； don't ever fetch him down here again！ I'll
never forgit the time you did。 All the folks an' children
an' hosses in Pine broke an' run thet day。〃
〃Yes； but Tom wasn't to blame。 Auntie； he's the tamest of my
pets。 Didn't he try to put his head on your lap an' lick
your hand？〃
〃Wal； Milt； I ain't gainsayin' your cougar pet didn't act
better 'n a lot of people I know。 Fer he did。 But the looks
of him an' what's been said was enough for me。〃
〃An' what's all that； Auntie？〃
〃They say he's wild when out of your sight。 An' thet he'd
trail an' kill anythin' you put him after。〃
〃I trained him to be just that way。〃
〃Wal； leave Tom to home up in the woods…when you visit us。〃
Dale finished his hearty meal； and listened awhile longer to
the old woman's talk； then； taking his rifle and the other
turkey； he bade her good…by。 She followed him out。
〃Now； Milt； you'll come soon again； won't you jest to see
Al's niece who'll be here in a week？〃
〃I reckon I'll drop in some day。 。 。 。 Auntie； have you seen
my friends； the Mormon boys？〃
〃No； I 'ain't seen them an' don't want to；〃 she retorted。
〃Milt Dale； if any one ever corrals you it'll be Mormons。〃
〃Don't worry； Auntie。 I like those boys。 They often see me
up in the woods an' ask me to help them track a hoss or help
kill some fresh meat。〃
〃They're workin' for Beasley now。〃
〃Is that so？〃 rejoined Dale； with a sudden start。 〃An' what
doin'？〃
〃Beasley is gettin' so rich he's buildin' a fence； an'
didn't have enough help； so I hear。〃
〃Beasley gettin' rich！〃 repeated Dale； thoughtfully。 〃More
sheep an' horses an' cattle than ever； I reckon？〃
〃Laws…a'…me！ Why； Milt； Beasley 'ain't any idea what he
owns。 Yes； he's the biggest man in these parts； since poor
old Al's took to failin'。 I reckon Al's health ain't none
improved by Beasley's success。 They've bad some bitter
quarrels lately so I hear。 Al ain't what he was。〃
Dale bade good…by again to his old friend and strode away；
thoughtful and serious。 Beasley would not only be difficult
to circumvent； but he would be dangerous to oppose。 There
did not appear much doubt of his driving his way rough…shod
to the dominance of affairs there in Pine。 Dale； passing
down the road； began to meet acquaintances who had hearty
welcome for his presence and interest in his doings； so that
his pondering was interrupted for the time being。 He carried
the turkey to another old friend； and when he left her house
he went on to the village store。 This was a large log cabin；
roughly covered with clapboards； with a wide plank platform
in front and a hitching…rail in the road。 Several horses
were standing there； and a group of lazy； shirt…sleeved
loungers。
〃I'll be doggoned if it ain't Milt Dale！〃 exclaimed one。
〃Howdy； Milt； old buckskin！ Right down glad to see you；〃
greeted another。
〃Hello； Dale！ You air shore good for sore eyes；〃 drawled
still another。
After a long period of absence Dale always experienced a
singular warmth of feeling when he met these acquaintances。
It faded quickly when he got back to the intimacy of his
woodland； and that was because the people of Pine； with few
exceptions though they liked him and greatly admired his
outdoor wisdom regarded him as a sort of nonentity。
Because he loved the wild and preferred it to village and
range life； they had classed him as not one of them。 Some
believed him lazy； others believed him shiftless； others
thought him an Indian in mind and habits； and there were
many who called him slow…witted。 Then there was another side
to their regard for him； which always afforded him
good…natured amusement。 Two of this group asked him to bring
in some turkey or venison； another wanted to hunt with him。
Lem Harden came out of the store and appealed to Dale to
recover his stolen horse。 Lem's brother wanted a
wild…running mare tracked and brought home。 Jesse Lyons
wanted a colt broken； and broken with patience； not
violence； as was the method of the hard…riding boys at Pine。
So one and all they besieged Dale with their selfish needs；
all unconscious of the flattering nature of these overtures。
And on the moment there happened by two women whose remarks；
as they entered the store； bore strong testimony to Dale's
personality。
〃If there ain't Milt Dale！〃 exclaimed the older of the two。
〃How lucky！ My cow's sick； an' the men are no good
doctorin'。 I'll jest ask Milt over。〃
〃No one like Milt！〃 responded the other woman； heartily。
〃Good day there you Milt Dale！〃 called the first speaker。
〃When you git away from these lazy men come over。〃
Dale never refused a service； and that was why his
infrequent visits to Pine were wont to be prolonged beyond
his own pleasure。
Presently Beasley strode down the street； and when about to
enter the store he espied Dale。
〃Hullo there； Milt！〃 he called； cordially； as he came
forward with extended hand。 His greeting was sincere； but
the lightning glance he shot over Dale was not born of his
pleasure。 Seen in daylight； Beasley was a big； bold； bluff
man； with strong； dark features。 His aggressive presence
suggested that he was a good friend and a bad enemy。
Dale shook hands with him。
〃How are you； Beasley？〃
〃Ain't complainin'； Milt； though I got more work than I can
rustle。 Reckon you wouldn't take a job bossin' my
sheep…herders？〃
〃Reckon I wouldn't；〃 replied Dale。 〃Thanks all the same。〃
〃What's goin' on up in the woods？〃
〃Plenty of turkey an' deer。 Lots of bear； too。 The Indians
have worked back on the south side early this fall。 But I
reckon winter will come late an' be mild。〃
〃Good！ An' where 're you headin' from？〃
〃'Cross…country from my camp；〃 replied Dale； rather
evasively。
〃Your camp！ Nobody ever found that yet；〃 declared Beasley；
gruffly。
〃It's up there；〃 said Dale。
〃Reckon you've got that cougar chained in your cabin door？〃
queried Beasley； and there was a barely distinguishable
shudder of his muscular frame。 Also the pupils dilated in
his hard brown eyes。
〃Tom ain't chained。 An' I haven't no cabin； Beasley。〃
〃You mean to tell me that big brute stays in your camp
without bein' hog…tied or corralled！〃 demanded Beasley。
〃Sure he does。〃
〃Beats me！ But； then； I'm queer on cougars。 Have had many a
cougar trail me at night。 Ain't sayin' I was scared。 But I
don't care for that brand of varmint。 。 。 。 Milt； you goin'
to stay down awhile？〃
〃Yes； I'll hang around some。〃
〃Come over to the ranch。 Glad to see you any time。 Some old
huntin' pards of yours ar