lorence Grace Hallman. "Mostly off stock, though."

"Yes, and we encourage our clients to bring out all the young stock they
possibly can; young cows and horses and--all that sort of thing. There's
quantities of open country around here, that even the most optimistic
of homeseekers would never think of filing on. They can make out, all
right, I guess. We certainly urge them strongly to bring stock with
them. It's always been famous as a cattle country--that's one of our
highest cards. We tell them--"

"How do you do that? Do you go right to them and TALK to them?"

"Yes, if they show a strong enough interest--and bank account. I follow
up the best prospects and visit them in person. I've talked to fifty
horny-handed he-men in the past month."

"Then I don't see what you need of anyone to bring up the drag," Andy
told her admiringly. "If you talk to 'em, there oughtn't be any drag!"

"Thank you for the implied compliment. But there IS a 'drag,' as you
call it. There's going to be a big one, too, I'm afraid--when they get
out and see this tract we're going to work off this spring." She stopped
and studied him as a chess player studies the board.

"I'm very much tempted to tell you something I shouldn't tell," she said
at length, lowering her voice a little. "Remember, Andy Green was a very
good looking man, and his eyes were remarkable for their clear, candid
gaze straight into your own eyes. Even as keen a business woman as
Florence Grace Hallman must be forgiven for being deceived by them. I'm
tempted to tell you where this tract is. You may know it."

"You better not, unless you're willing to take a chance," he told her
soberly. "If it looks too good, I'm liable to jump it myself."

Miss Hallman laughed and twisted her red lips at him in what might be
construed as a flirtatious manner. She was really quite taken with Andy
Green. "I'll take a chance. I don't think you'll jump it. Do you know
anything about Dry Lake, up above Havre, toward Great Falls--and the
country out east of there, towards the mountains?"

The fingers of Andy Green closed into his palms. His eyes, however,
continued to look into hers with his most guileless expression.

"Y-es--that is, I've ridden over it," he acknowledged simply.

"Well--now this is a secret; at least we don't want those mossback
ranchers in there to get hold of it too soon, though they couldn't
really do anything, since it's all government land and the lease has
only ju