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〃Yes； I'll hang around some。〃
〃Come over to the ranch。 Glad to see you any time。 Some old
huntin' pards of yours are workin' for me。〃
〃Thanks； Beasley。 I reckon I'll come over。〃
Beasley turned away and took a step； and then； as if with an
after…thought； he wheeled again。
〃Suppose you've heard about old Al Auchincloss bein' near
petered out？〃 queried Beasley。 A strong； ponderous cast of
thought seemed to emanate from his features。 Dale divined
that Beasley's next step would be to further his advancement
by some word or hint。
〃Widow Cass was tellin' me all the news。 Too bad about old
Al；〃 replied Dale。
〃Sure is。 He's done for。 An' I'm sorry though Al's never
been square 〃
〃Beasley；〃 interrupted Dale； quickly； 〃you can't say that to
me。 Al Auchincloss always was the whitest an' squarest man
in this sheep country。〃
Beasley gave Dale a fleeting； dark glance。
〃Dale； what you think ain't goin' to influence feelin' on
this range；〃 returned Beasley； deliberately。 〃You live in
the woods an' 〃
〃Reckon livin' in the woods I might think an' know a
whole lot；〃 interposed Dale； just as deliberately。 The group
of men exchanged surprised glances。 This was Milt Dale in
different aspect。 And Beasley did not conceal a puzzled
surprise。
〃About what now？〃 he asked； bluntly。
〃Why； about what's goin' on in Pine；〃 replied Dale。
Some of the men laughed。
〃Shore lots goin' on an' no mistake；〃 put in Lem Harden。
Probably the keen Beasley had never before considered Milt
Dale as a responsible person； certainly never one in any way
to cross his trail。 But on the instant； perhaps； some
instinct was born； or he divined an antagonism in Dale that
was both surprising and perplexing。
〃Dale； I've differences with Al Auchincloss have had them
for years；〃 said Beasley。 〃Much of what he owns is mine。 An'
it's goin' to come to me。 Now I reckon people will be takin'
sides some for me an' some for Al。 Most are for me。 。 。 。
Where do you stand？ Al Auchincloss never had no use for you；
an' besides he's a dyin' man。 Are you goin' on his side？〃
〃Yes； I reckon I am。〃
〃Wal； I'm glad you've declared yourself；〃 rejoined Beasley；
shortly； and he strode away with the ponderous gait of a man
who would brush any obstacle from his path。
〃Milt； thet's bad makin' Beasley sore at you；〃 said Lem
Harden。 〃He's on the way to boss this outfit。〃
〃He's sure goin' to step into Al's boots；〃 said another。
〃Thet was white of Milt to stick up fer poor old Al；〃
declared Lem's brother。
Dale broke away from them and wended a thoughtful way down
the road。 The burden of what he knew about Beasley weighed
less heavily upon him； and the close…lipped course be had
decided upon appeared wisest。 He needed to think before
undertaking to call upon old Al Auchincloss； and to that end
he sought an hour's seclusion under the pines。
CHAPTER III
In the afternoon； Dale； having accomplished some tasks
imposed upon him by his old friends at Pine； directed slow
steps toward the Auchincloss ranch。
The flat； square stone and log cabin of unusually large size
stood upon a little hill half a mile out of the village。 A
home as well as a fort； it had been the first structure
erected in that region； and the process of building had more
than once been interrupted by Indian attacks。 The Apaches
had for some time； however； confined their fierce raids to
points south of the White Mountain range。 Auchincloss's
house looked down upon barns and sheds and corrals of all
sizes and shapes； and hundreds of acres of well…cultivated
soil。 Fields of oats waved gray and yellow in the afternoon
sun； an immense green pasture was divided by a
willow…bordered brook； and here were droves of horses； and
out on the rolling bare flats were straggling herds of
cattle。
The whole ranch showed many years of toil and the
perseverance of man。 The brook irrigated the verdant valley
between the ranch and the village。 Water for the house；
however； came down from the high； wooded slope of the
mountain； and had been brought there by a simple expedient。
Pine logs of uniform size had been laid end to end； with a
deep trough cut in them； and they made a shining line down
the slope； across the valley； and up the little hill to the
Auchincloss home。 Near the house the hollowed halves of logs
had been bound together； making a crude pipe。 Water ran
uphill in this case； one of the facts that made the ranch
famous； as it had always been a wonder and delight to the
small boys of Pine。 The two good women who managed
Auchincloss's large household were often shocked by the
strange things that floated into their kitchen with the
ever…flowing stream of clear； cold mountain water。
As it happened this day Dale encountered Al Auchincloss
sitting in the shade of a porch； talking to some of his
sheep…herders and stockmen。 Auchincloss was a short man of
extremely powerful build and great width of shoulder。 He had
no gray hairs； and he did not look old； yet there was in his
face a certain weariness； something that resembled sloping
lines of distress； dim and pale； that told of age and the
ebb…tide of vitality。 His features； cast in large mold； were
clean…cut and comely； and he had frank blue eyes； somewhat
sad； yet still full of spirit。
Dale had no idea how his visit would be taken； and he
certainly would not have been surprised to be ordered off
the place。 He had not set foot there for years。 Therefore it
was with surprise that he saw Auchincloss wave away the
herders and take his entrance without any particular
expression。
〃Howdy； Al！ How are you？〃 greeted Dale； easily； as he leaned
his rifle against the log wall。
Auchincloss did not rise； but he offered his hand。
〃Wal； Milt Dale； I reckon this is the first time I ever seen
you that I couldn't lay you flat on your back；〃 replied the
rancher。 His tone was both testy and full of pathos。
〃I take it you mean you ain't very well；〃 replied Dale。 〃I'm
sorry； Al。〃
〃No； it ain't thet。 Never was sick in my life。 I'm just
played out； like a hoss thet had been strong an' willin'；
an' did too much。 。 。 。 Wal； you don't look a day older；
Milt。 Livin' in the woods rolls over a man's head。〃
〃Yes； I'm feelin' fine； an' time never bothers me。〃
〃Wal； mebbe you ain't such a fool； after all。 I've wondered
lately since I had time to think。 。 。 。 But； Milt； you
don't git no richer。〃
〃Al； I have all I want an' need。〃
〃Wal； then； you don't support anybody； you don't do any good
in the world。〃
〃We don't agree； Al；〃 replied Dale； with his slow smile。
〃Reckon we never did。 。 。 。 An' you jest come over to pay
your respects to me； eh？〃
〃Not altogether；〃 answered Dale； ponderingly。 〃First off；
I'd like to say I'll pay back them sheep you always claimed
my tame cougar killed。〃
〃You will！ An' how'd you go about that？〃
〃Wasn't very many sheep； was there？
〃A matter of fifty head。〃
〃So many！ Al； do you still think old Tom killed them sheep？〃
〃Humph！ Milt； I know damn well he did。〃
〃Al； now how could you know somethin' I don't？ Be
reasonable； now。 Let's don't fall out about