I had horses to lend to every man 'tween here and Thief
River." He nodded toward Sleepy Cat with a wrecked smile, and by a
dramatic chance the broken hat brim fell with the words: "They've got
'em all."

"Your fault, Bull."

"Say!" Up went the broken brim, and the whiskied face lighted with a
shaking smile, "you turned some trick on that Calabasas crew--some
fight," Bull chuckled.

"Bull, is old Duke Morgan a Republican?"

Bull looked surprised at the turn of de Spain's question, but answered
in good faith: "Duke votes 'most any ticket that's agin the
railroad."

"How about picking a couple of good barnmen over in the Gap, Bull?"

"What kind of a job y'got?"

"See McAlpin the next time you're over at Calabasas. How about that
girl that lives with Duke?"

Bull's face lighted. "Nan! Say! she's a little hummer!"

"I hear she's gone down to Thief River teaching school."

"Came by Duke's less'n three hours ago. Seen her in the kitchen makin'
bread."

"They're looking for a school-teacher down there, anyway. Much
sickness in the Gap lately, Bull?"

"On'y sickness I knowed lately is what you're responsible for y'self,"
retorted Bull with a grin. "Pity y' left over any chips at all from
that Calabasas job, eh?"

"See McAlpin, Bull, next time you're over Calabasas way. Here"--de
Spain drew some currency from his pocket and handed a bill to Page.
"Go get your hair cut. Don't talk too much--wear your whiskers long
and your tongue short."

"Right-o!"

"You understand."

"Take it from old Bull Page, he's a world's wonder of a sucker, but he
knows his friends."

"But remember this--you don't know me. If anybody knows you for a
friend of mine, you are no good to me. See?"

Bull was beyond expressing his comprehension in words alone. He
winked, nodded, and screwed his face into a thousand wrinkles. De
Spain, wheeling, rode away, the old man blinking first after him, and
then at the money in his hand. He didn't profess to understand
everything in the high country, but he could still distinguish the
principal figures at the end of a bank-note. When he tramped to
Calabasas the next day to interview McAlpin he received more advice,
with a strong burr, about keeping his own counsel, and a little
expense money to run him until an opening presented itself on the
pay-roll.

But long before Bull Page reached Calabasas that day de Spain had
acted. When he left Bull at the bridge, he started for Calabasas, took
suppe