in the bluff.

"I was waiting for you," said the constable. "I'm sorry we'll have to
call you up again as soon as the rustler's leg is better. He's in the
guard-room, and the boys got one of the other fellows; but we can talk
about it on the train. I'm going back to my post."

George arranged to meet him, and they were sitting in a roomy smoking
compartment as the big express sped across wide gray levels and past
vast stretches of ripening grain, when the next allusion was made to
the matter.

"I suppose you'll be sergeant shortly," George remarked.

"Corporal comes first," said Flett. "They stick to the regular
rotation."

"That's true, but they seem to use some discretion in exceptional
cases. I hardly think you'll remain a corporal."

Flett's eyes twinkled.

"I did get something that sounded like a hint. I'll confess that I
felt like whooping after it."

"You have deserved all you'll get," George declared.

They spent the night at a junction, where Flett had some business, and
it was the next evening when the local train ran into Sage Butte. The
platform was crowded and as George and Flett alighted, there was a
cheer and, somewhat to their astonishment, the reeve of the town
advanced to meet them.

"I'm here to welcome you in the name of the citizens of the Butte," he
said. "We have to request the favor of your company at supper at the
Queen's."

"It's an honor," George responded. "I'm sensible of it; but, you see,
I'm in a hurry to get back to work and I wired for a team. My harvest
should have been started a week ago."

"Don't you worry 'bout that," said the reeve. "It wasn't our wish that
you should suffer through discharging your duty, and we made a few
arrangements. Four binders have been working steady in your oats, and
if you don't like the way we have fixed things, you can alter them
to-morrow."

Then West touched George's arm.

"You'll have to come. They've got two other victims--Hardie and
Grant--and the supper's ready."

The reeve looked at him in stern rebuke.

"That isn't the way to speak of this function, Percy. If you feel like
a victim, you can drop right out."

George was touched by the man's intimation. He expressed his
satisfaction, and the whole assembly escorted him to the hotel. There
he and Grant and Hardie were seated at the top of a long table near the
reeve, who made a short opening speech.

"Business first, and then the supper, boys," he said. "Cor