mean quitting," said Jim. "I'm going to run it with a hired
man. Y'see I've got one hundred and fifty stock and a bit saved for
building. When I get married my wife'll see to things some. See the
work is done while I'm here."

McLagan grinned and nodded.

"Guess you didn't seem like gettin' married jest now, talkin' of those
things. You kind o' seemed 'down' some."

Jim's eyes became thoughtful.

"Makes you feel 'down' when you get remembering some things," he said.
"Y'see it makes you wonder what the future feels like doing in the way
of kicks. Things are going good about now, and--and I want 'em to keep
on going good."

McLagan laughed boisterously.

"You've sure jest got to play hard to-day, let the future worry fer
itself. Well, so long. I'll hand you the papers when you've selected
the ground, boy. An' don't forget the black mare."

He left the hut and Jim watched him stumping busily away across to the
big barn where the saddle horses were kept. His eyes were smiling as
he looked after him. He liked Dan McLagan. His volcanic temper; his
immoderate manner of expression suggested an open enough disposition,
and he liked men to be like that.

But his smile was at the thought that somehow he had managed to make
his "boss" think that extreme caution was one of his characteristics.
Yes, it made him smile. If such had been the case many things in the
past, many disasters might have been averted.

As a matter of fact he had been thinking of the woman he hoped to make
his wife. He was wondering if he had a reasonable prospect of helping
her to all the comfort in life she deserved. He took an ultra serious
view of matrimonial responsibilities. Eve must have a good, ample
home. She must have nothing to worry, none of little petty economies
to study which make life so burdensome. Yes, they must start with
that, and then, with luck, their stock would grow, he would buy more
land, and finally she would be able to hold her place with the wives
of all the richest ranchers in the district. That was what he wanted
for her when they were married.

When they were married. Suddenly he laughed. He had not asked her yet.
Still---- His eyes grew gloomy. His thoughts turned to another man, his
cousin, Will Henderson. He knew that Will liked Eve Marsham. It was
the one cloud upon his horizon. Will was younger than he by a good
deal. He was handsome, too. Eve liked him. Yes, she liked him, he was
sure. But somehow he did not ass