n.

"Read that." He tossed a letter across the tiny table.

Bob poised the epistle in his hand gingerly.

"South Dakota," he commented, as he observed the postmark. "Humph, I
can't make out the town."

"It's not a town at all, only a postoffice. Immaterial anyway,"
explained Calmar, irritably.

The round-faced man unfolded the letter slowly and read aloud:--

"MY DEAR SIR:--

"Your request, coming from a stranger, is rather unusual; but if
you really mean business, I will say this: Provided you're
willing to take hold and stay right with me, I'll take you in
and at the end of a half-year pay $75.00 per month. You can then
put into the common fund whatever part of your savings you wish
and have a proportionate interest in the herd. Permit me to
observe, however, that you will find your surroundings somewhat
different from those amid which you are living at present, and I
should advise you to consider carefully before you make the
change.

"Very truly yours,
"E. J. DOUGLASS."

Bob slowly folded the sheet, and tossed it back.

"In what particular portion of that desert, if I may ask, does your
new employer reside?" There was uncertainty in the speaker's voice,
as of one who spoke of India or the islands of the Pacific.
"Likewise--pardon my ignorance--is that herd he mentions--buffalo?"

Calmar imperturbably returned the letter to his pocket.

"I'm serious, Robert. Douglass is a cattle man west of the river."

"The river!" apostrophized Bob. "The man juggles with mysteries. What
river, pray?"

"The Missouri, of course. Didn't you ever study geography?"

"I beg your pardon," in humble apology. "Is that," vaguely, "what they
call the Bad Lands?"

Bye looked across at his friend, of a mind to be indignant; then his
good-nature triumphed.

"No, it's not so bad as that," with a feeble attempt at a pun. He
paused to light a cigar, and absent-minded as usual, continued in
digression.

"I've dangled long enough, old man; too long. I'm going to do
something now. I start to-morrow."

Bob Wilson the skeptic, looked at his friend again critically.
Resolutions of reconstruction he had heard before--and later watched
their downfall; but this time somehow there was a new element
introduced. Perhaps, after all--

"Waiter," he called, "we'll trifle with another quart of extra-dry, if
you please."

"To