from this world to the next. Once more a curious
thrill ran through her, and there was pride as well as regret in it.
Presently she became conscious that Hastings was speaking.

"What took you around by the Range, Jim?" he asked.

"Collecting," answered Sproatly. "I sold Gregory a couple of binders
earlier in the season, but I couldn't get a dollar out of him." He
laughed. "Of course, if it had been anybody else I'd have stayed until
he handed over the money, but I couldn't press Gregory too hard after
quartering myself upon him as I did last winter, though I'm rather
afraid my employers wouldn't appreciate that kind of delicacy."

Mrs. Hastings looked thoughtful. "Gregory should have been able to pay.
He thrashed out a moderately good crop."

"About two-thirds of what it should have been, and I've reason for
believing that he has been putting up a mortgage. Interest's heavy.
There's another matter. I wonder if you've heard that he's getting rid
of two of Harry's hands? I mean Pat and Tom Moran."

"You're sure of that?" Hastings asked sharply.

"Tom told me."

Mrs. Hastings leaned forward suddenly in her chair. "Then," she said,
"I'm going to drive across on Monday, and have a few words with Gregory.
Did Moran tell you that Harry had decided to keep the two of them on
throughout the year?"

"He wasn't very explicit, but he seemed to feel he had a grievance
against Gregory. Of course, in a way, you can't blame Gregory. He's in
charge, and it isn't in him to carry out Harry's policy. This fall in
wheat is getting on his nerves, and in any case he'd probably have held
his hand and cut down the crop next year."

"I do blame him." Mrs. Hastings turned to Agatha. "You will understand
that in a general way there's not much that can be done when the snow's
upon the ground, and as one result of it the hired man prefers to engage
himself for the year. To secure himself from being turned adrift when
harvest is over he frequently makes a concession in wages. Now I know
Harry intended to keep those two men on, and Tom Moran, who has a little
half-cleared ranch back somewhere in the bush of Ontario, came out here
tempted by higher wages. I understand he had to raise a few dollars or
give the place up, and he left his wife behind. Many of the smaller
ranch men can't live upon their holdings. Well, I'm going over on Monday
to tell Gregory he has got to keep these two men, and you're coming with
me."

Agatha made no reply. I