have in the
matter, my friend."

"I get in this way," said Dave. "I'm a friend of the kid's, as well as a
hired man. You can take what you like out of that."

Whatever Mr. Braden took out of it he did not immediately speak, but
drummed with his fingers on the table.

"One of my rules of life," he said, "is to get along without friction; I
trust I am a reasonable man. When I find that my views conflict with
those of others, I weigh both carefully. They may be right and I may be
wrong. We must have no friction at the outset, Angus, and I think that
you have misunderstood me. As you object to renting the ranch I am going
to give you an opportunity to think it over, and I am going to think it
over myself. Then we will have another talk. Naturally, I must do what
is best for the estate, but I wish to meet your wishes as far as
possible. My sole desire is to do my best for all of you. No
friction--no, no. We do not want friction, do we, my boy?"

"I do not want trouble at all," Angus said. "All I want is to run the
ranch, and that is what I am going to do."

"Yes, yes, I understand," Mr. Braden returned. "Well, do so for the
present, my boy. Then we will talk it over again."

"There is no use talking it over," Angus maintained. "I have made up my
mind."

Mr. Braden looked as though he desired to express his opinion of this
boyish obstinacy, but changing his mind he smiled benevolently and
suggested a look around the ranch. Angus accompanied him, pointing out
what was needed and what he intended to do. The executor listened,
asking an occasional question, giving now and then a bit of advice. But
when he had driven away Angus was thoughtful.

"You and him was gettin' to be some tillikums," Rennie observed.

"He seemed all right while I was going around with him," Angus admitted.
"He wants to get that notion of renting out his head, though. I wonder
how it would be on a show-down, Dave? Do you suppose he could rent the
place, no matter whether I wanted to or not, or was he only running a
sandy?"

"I dunno," Rennie admitted. "If I was you I'd go and have a talk with
old Judge Riley, like your daddy told you to do if anything come up. You
may catch him sober. Not," he added, "that the old boy ain't pretty wise
when he's drunk."

CHAPTER IV

JUDGE RILEY--DRUNK AND SOBER

"Judge" Riley had once been on the bench, but for some reason had
resigned and gone back to his profession, hanging out his shingle in
Mo