t it was relentlessly bringing them trouble, perhaps;
certainly a problem--unless the homeseekers hovered only so long as
it took them to see that wisdom lay in looking elsewhere for a home.
Still--

"If this was August instead of May, I wouldn't worry none about them
pilgrims staying long," Jack Bates voiced the thought that was uppermost
in their minds.

"There comes two livery rigs to haul 'em to the hotel," Pink pointed out
as he glanced toward town. "And there's another one. Johnny told me every
room they've got is spoke for, and two in every bed."

"That wouldn't take no crowd," Happy Jack grumbled, remembering the
limitations of Dry Lake's hotel. "Here come Chip and the missus. Wonder
what they want?"

The Little Doctor left Chip to get their tickets and walked quickly
toward them.

"Hello, boys! Waiting for someone, or just going somewhere?"

"Waiting. Same to you, Mrs. Chip," Weary replied.

"To me? Well, we're going up to make our filings. Claude won't take a
homestead, because we'll have to stay on at the Flying U, of course, and
we couldn't hold one. But we'll both file desert claims. J. G. hasn't
been a bit well, and I didn't dare leave him before--and of course
Claude wouldn't go till I did. That the passenger coming, or a freight?"

"It's the train--with the dry-farmers," Andy informed her with a glance
at the nearing smoke-smudge.

"Is it? We aren't any too soon then, are we? I left Son at home--and he
threatened to run away and live with you boys. I almost wish I'd brought
him along. He's been perfectly awful. So have the men Claude hired to
take your places, if you want to know, boys. I believe that is what
made J. G. sick--having those strange men on the place. He's been like a
bear."

"Didn't Chip tell him--"

"He did, yes. He told him right away, that evening. But--J. G. has such
stubborn ideas. We couldn't make him believe that anyone would be crazy
enough to take up that land and try to make a living farming it. He--"
She looked sidewise at Andy and pursed her lips to Keep from smiling.

"He thinks I lied about it, I suppose," said that young man shrewdly.

"That's what he says. He pretends that you boys meant to quit, and just
thought that up for an excuse. He'll be all right--you mustn't pay any
attention--"

"Here she comes!"

A black nose thrust through a Deep cut that had a curve to it. At their
feet the rails began to hum. The Little Doctor turned hastily to see if
Chip w