that by
temperament Wilbur was especially fitted for the Forest Service, had
urged the boy's father to allow him to enter for it, and did not attempt
to conceal his satisfaction with Wilbur's success.

"Why, Masseth, how did you get hold of Loyle?" asked the Chief Forester
as the two came up the walk together.

"Didn't you know he was my nephew?" was the surprised reply.

"No," answered their host as they paused on the threshold, "he never
said anything to me about it."

The geologist looked inquiringly at his young relative.

"I thought," said Wilbur, coloring, "that if I said anything about
knowing you, before I was appointed, it would look as though I had done
it to get a pull. I didn't think it would do me any good, anyhow; and
even if it had, I felt that I'd rather not get anything that way."

"It wouldn't have helped you a bit," said the Chief Forester, "and, as
you see, you did not need it. I'm glad, too, that you did not mention it
at the time." He nodded his appreciation of the boy's position as they
passed into the room beyond.

The place was thoroughly typical of the gathering and the occasion. The
walls were hung with some magnificent trophies, elk and moose heads, one
stuffed fish of huge size was framed beside the door, and there were
numberless photographs of trees and forests, cross-sections of woods,
and comparisons of leaves and seeds. Although in the heart of
Washington, there was a breath and fragrance in the room, which, to the
boy, seemed like old times in the woods. The men, too, that were
gathered there showed themselves to be what they were--men who knew the
great wide world and loved it. Every man seemed hearty in manner and
thoroughly interested in whatever was going on.

Masseth was called away, soon after they entered the room, and Wilbur,
left to himself, sauntered about among the groups of talkers, looking at
the various trophies hung on the walls. As he drew near to one of the
smaller groups, however, he caught the word "gun-play," so he edged up
to the men and listened. One of them, seeing the lad, moved slightly to
one side as an unspoken invitation to be one of them, and Wilbur stepped
up.

The man who was speaking was comparing the present peaceful
administration of the forests with the conditions that used to exist
years ago, before the Service had been established, and when the Western
"bad man" was at the summit of his power.

"It was during the cattle and sheep war th