myself
proper, beginnin' by settin' 'em up to a fool guy which had give all
his coin to some card sharps yesterday."

"None of them things fill the bill," said Calumet. "This thousand was
give to me by a woman. I'm to buy things with it--horses, wagon,
lumber, hardware, an' such truck."

"Shucks," said the puncher, disappointedly. Over his face settled a
glum expression. "Then you ain't got no right to spend it--for
anything but what she told you about. You'd be worse'n a thief to
squander that money."

Calumet looked keenly at him. "I reckon you're more'n half right.
You've settled a thing in my mind. If you're hangin' around here when
I get through buyin' them things I'll be settin' them up to you. If
I've got anything left." He abruptly broke off and urged his pony
about, leaving the puncher to look after him speculatively.

Two hours later he returned, driving two horses which were hitched to a
wagon of the "prairie-schooner" variety. The wagon was loaded with
lumber and sundry kegs, boxes and packages. Calumet's pony trailed it.

The puncher was still where Calumet had left him--apparently he had not
moved. But when he saw Calumet halt the horses in front of him and
jump out of the wagon he got to his feet. He met Calumet's gaze with a
sober, interested smile.

"That wagon of yours is speakin' mighty loud of work," he said. "Back
in Texas I used to be counted uncommon clever with a saw an' hammer.
If you can rassle them two statements around to look them in the face
you can see what I'm drivin' at."

"What do you think you are worth to a man who ain't got no authority to
do any hirin'?" said Calumet.

"Ain't you the boss?" said Dade, disappointedly.

"The boss is a woman. If you're wantin' to work you can come along.
You'll have to take your chance. Otherwise--"

"I'll go you," said the puncher. He threw his saddle into the wagon.
"You said somethin' about a drink," he added, "if you had anything
left. I'm hopin'--"

Calumet hesitated.

"Just one," said Dade. "Mebbe two. Not more than three--or four. If
your ranch is far--"

"Twenty miles."

"About two, then," suggested Dade. "You wouldn't feel satisfied to
know that it was here an' you left it."

"Well, then, get a move on you," growled Calumet. He followed Dade
into the Red Dog.

It was quiet in the barroom. Three men sat at a table near the center
of the room, laughing and talking. They looked up with casual interes