and the Rosebud to his death. There is the church
especially erected for the use of the wife of the Marquis de Mores.
His old house is beyond. You can see it."

For a minute he sat silent. "Looking back to my old days here," he
said, "I can paraphrase Kipling and say, 'Whatever may happen, I can
thank God I have lived and toiled with men.'"

Roosevelt was inaugurated as Vice-President in March, 1901. Six months
later he was President of the United States. From a venturesome
cowpuncher who made his way shyly into the White House, the glad
tidings were spread to the Bad Lands and through the whole Northwest
that Roosevelt was the same Roosevelt, and that everybody had better
take a trip to Washington as soon as he could, for orders had gone
forth that "the cowboy bunch can come in whenever they want to."

Occasionally one or the other had difficulty in getting past the
guards. It took Sylvane two days, once, to convince the doorkeeper
that the President wanted to see him. Roosevelt was indignant. "The
next time they don't let you in, Sylvane," he exclaimed, "you just
shoot through the windows."

No one shot through the windows. It was never necessary. The cowboys
dined at the President's table with Cabinet ministers and ambassadors.

"Remember, Jim, that if you shot at the feet of the British Ambassador
to make him dance," Roosevelt whispered to one of his cowboy guests on
one occasion, "it would be likely to cause international
complications."

"Why, Colonel, I shouldn't think of it," exclaimed Jim. "I shouldn't
think of it!"

The cowpunchers were the only ones who refused to take altogether
seriously the tradition that an invitation to the White House was
equivalent to a command. John Willis on one occasion came down from
Montana to discuss reclamation with the President, and Roosevelt asked
him to take dinner at the White House that night. Willis murmured that
he did not have a dress-suit, and it would not do to dine with the
President of the United States "unless he were togged out proper."

"Oh, that needn't bother you," exclaimed the President.

"It makes a heap of difference," said Willis. "I may not always do the
right thing, but I know what's proper."

"You would be just as welcome at my table if you came in buckskin
trousers."

"I know that's true," Willis replied, "but I guess I will have to
side-step this trip. If you are taking any horseback rides out on the
trail here to-morrow, I'm your man,