et's a damn shame. Take thet bridle off.... There. If
it'd been an ornery hoss, now.... Moore, how'd this happen?"

"We just rode in," replied Wilson, hurriedly. "I was saddling Spottie
when Jack came up. He took a shine to the mustang and wanted to ride
him. When Spottie reared--he's shy with strangers--why, Jack gave a hell
of a jerk on the bridle. The bit cut Spottie.... Well, that made me mad,
but I held in. I objected to Jack riding Spottie. You see, Hudson was
hurt yesterday and he appointed me foreman for to-day. I needed Spottie.
But your son couldn't see it, and that made me sore. Jack said the
mustang was his--"

"His?" interrupted Belllounds.

"Yes. He claimed Spottie. Well, he wasn't really mine, so I gave in.
When I threw off the saddle, which _was_ mine, Jack began to roar. He
said he was foreman and he'd have me discharged. But I said I'd quit
already. We both kept getting sorer and I called him Buster Jack.... He
hit me first. Then we fought. I reckon I was getting the best of him
when he made a dive for Bludsoe's gun. And that's all."

"Boss, as sure as I'm a born cowman," put in Bludsoe, "he'd hev plugged
Wils if he'd got my gun. At thet he damn near got it!"

The old man stroked his scant gray beard with his huge, steady hand,
apparently not greatly concerned by the disclosure.

"Montana, what do you say?" he queried, as if he held strong store by
that quiet cowboy's opinion.

"Wal, boss," replied Jim, reluctantly, "Buster Jack's temper was bad
onct, but now it's plumb wuss."

Whereupon Belllounds turned to Moore with a gesture and a look of a man
who, in justice to something in himself, had to speak.

"Wils, it's onlucky you clashed with Jack right off," he said. "But thet
was to be expected. I reckon Jack was in the wrong. Thet hoss was yours
by all a cowboy holds right an' square. Mebbe by law Spottie belonged to
White Slides Ranch--to me. But he's yours now, fer I give him to you."

"Much obliged, Belllounds. I sure do appreciate that," replied Moore,
warmly. "It's what anybody'd gamble Bill Belllounds would do."

"Ahuh! An' I'd take it as a favor if you'd stay on to-day an' get thet
brandin' done:"

"All right, I'll do that for you," replied Moore. "Lem, I guess you
won't get your sleep till to-night. Come on."

"Awl" sighed Lem, as he picked up his bridle.

* * * * *

Late that afternoon Columbine sat upon the porch, watching the sunset.
It had be