ith such a look of awe that
the latter laughed.

"All you need care," Conrad said, digging a finger into Torrance's
chest, "is that he didn't wish to put it there."

The contractor scratched his head.

"That fellow sure can shoot . . . but it ain't half as queer as the way
he didn't want to."

Tressa, hearing Conrad's voice, tripped to the door, her eyes aglow
with a shy eagerness.

"Evening, Tressa!" The foreman swept off his hat. "Fine evening for
rifle practice."

"I know it don't matter about _me_," grunted Torrance, "but two feet at
a range of twelve hundred yards is cutting it fine for Tressa."

But Conrad only smiled his unconcern.

"At least you might be interested in the horses," Torrance grumbled.
"Another bunch gone. That's your business."

"So that's the cuss who's been robbing us."

"Such a clever lad, he is!" sneered Torrance. "You could see through a
pail with the bottom kicked out of it. He'll keep on robbing us, for
all you're doing to stop him. Right before our eyes he gets away with
it. What do you think I pay you a hundred a month for?"

"Because you can't get any one else to do half the work half as well at
twice the price," grinned the foreman.

Torrance growled into his moustache. "Four more gone, that is. And I
bet you stopped to brush your hat."

"I didn't hurry. Why should I? That chap knew he was safe. He's
miles away now, and by the time we could get across the river after him
he'd be in the next Province. He knows the prairie better than we do
grade. We'd have about as much chance of getting him as you had of
hitting him. Besides, we're track builders, not track finders. Your
measly hundred a month don't half pay for my real job. Get the Police
if you want to keep the excitement up."

"A hundred a month--and every evening in my shack," grumbled Torrance.
"I know lots of better men would think it good pay."

"It's every evening in your shack," gibed Conrad, "or you'd have to
come and live with Tressa and me."

"Oh?" questioned Tressa.

"Sure!" confidently.

"If you two are going to quarrel over me, I'll go back East."

"Dad-in-law," pleaded Conrad, "don't you think we could stage a good
rough-and-tumble here and now? I've been two years trying to get her
back East for good."

"I'm staying," declared Tressa, tossing her head.

"So'm I--in spite of your father."

"What gets me," marvelled Torrance, "is why he bothered to shoot when
he didn't want