n
the camp.

It was Ed Skidmore, the photographer, who had just completed a profitable
day at Red Tarken's ranch, the M Square.

Larkin, who was lying on the ground, heard the excitement as the newcomer
rode into camp, and got up to inspect him. Skidmore had dismounted, and
had his back turned when Bud approached, but suddenly turned so that the
two came face to face.

As their eyes met, both started back as though some terrible thing had
come between them.

"Bud! My Heavens!" cried Skidmore, turning pale under his tan.

"Lester!" was all that Larkin said as he stared with starting eyes and
sagging jaw at the man before him. Then, as one in a dream, he put out his
hand, and the other, with a cry of joy, seized and wrung it violently.

For a moment the two stood thus looking amazedly at each other, while the
sheepmen, suddenly stricken into silence, gazed curiously at the episode.
Then, one by one, they turned and walked away, leaving the two together.

It was Bud who found his voice first.

"What under heaven are you doing out here, Lester?" he asked at last.

"Earning a living making pictures," returned the other with a short laugh.
"It must be quite a shock to you to see me actually working."

"I can't deny it," said Bud as he smiled a bit. "But when did you come
out?"

"Six months after you did."

"But why on earth didn't you let me know? I would have given you a job on
the ranch."

"That's just why I didn't let you know. I didn't want a job on the ranch.
I wanted to do something for myself. I concluded I had been dependent on
other people about long enough. I'm not mushy, or converted, or anything
like that, Bud, but I figured that when the governor died and left me
without a cent I had deserved everything I got and was a disgrace to the
family and myself."

"Same with me, Lester," acknowledged Bud. "If you had only told me how you
felt about things we could have struck out here together."

"And you with all the money? I guess not," and Lester spoke bitterly.

"I'd have divided with you in a minute, if you had talked to me the way
you're doing now. We always used to divide things when we were kids, you
know."

"That's square of you, Bud, but I really don't want the money now. I'm
making a good go of my pictures; I don't owe anybody, and I haven't an
enemy that I know of. What have you done with your money?"

Larkin turned around and motioned toward the thousands of sheep dotted
over the hills.