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. Cleaned him empty one night at cards--stood him up for his last cent, and he kind o' took a notion to me. Well, he's the son of a duke or an earl, or some such thing, and not long ago the Governor goes and dies on him, leaving him a few castles and bric-a-brac like that and some wagon-loads of money. So he had to go home for the time being, and as he wanted someone to run his ranch, who should he think of but me. Suppose he thought if I happened to bet it at poker some night I wouldn't lose it, and that's some consideration. He's got a thousand acres or so of land up there, with a dozen cayuses on it, and he gives me twenty-five pounds a month, with board and lodging and open credit at the Trading Company, to see that it doesn't walk away in his absence. Besides that, I hire a man to do the work, and charge his wages up in the expenses. Got a good man, too--one of those fellows who don't know any better than work for a living. By the way, perhaps you know him--comes from Plainville part--Travers his name is?" "Sure," said Riles. "He worked for Harris, until they had a row and he lit out. It kind o' balled Harris up, too, although he'd never admit it. If he'd Travers there it'd be easier for him t' get away now." "Where's Harris going?" "He ain't goin'; he's comin'. Comin' out here in a few days after me. I'm his kind o' advance guard, spyin' out the land." "You don't say? Well, see and make him come through with the expenses. If I was travelling for Jack Harris I wouldn't be sleeping in a hen-coop like this. He's worth yards of money, ain't he?" "Oh, some, I guess, but perhaps not so much more'n his neighbours." "Nothing personal, Riles. You've got to get over that narrowness if you're going to get into the bigger game I've been telling you about. I don't care how much you're worth--how much is Harris bringing with him?" "Couple of hundred dollars, likely." "I wouldn't show my hand for that. How much can he raise?" "Well, supposin' he sold the old farm--" "Now don't do any reckless supposing. Will he sell the farm?" "Sure, he'll sell it if he sees something better." "How much can he get for it?" "Thirty or forty thousand dollars." "That's more like a stake. Hiram, it's up to you and me to show him something better--and to show it to him when he's alone...You're tired to-night. Sleep it out, and we'll drive over to the ranch to-morrow together. We ought to pick something better than a h
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