his third cup of coffee he made a
sudden decision. He would get that fence off his mind, anyway.

"Say, Patsy, I've rustled wire and posts--all we'll need. I guess I'll
just turn this receipt over to you and let you get busy. You take the
team and drive in today and get the stuff headed out here pronto.
The nesters are shipping in more stock--I heard in town that they're
bringing in all they can rustle, thinkin' the stock will pay big money
while the claims are getting ready to produce. I heard a couple of marks
telling each other just how it was going to work out so as to put 'em
all on Easy Street--the darned chumps! Free grass--that's what they
harped on; feed don't cost anything. All yuh do is turn 'em loose and
wait till shippin' season, and then collect. That's what they were
talking.

"The sooner that fence is up the better. We can't put in the whole
summer hazing their cattle around. I've bought the stuff and paid for
it. And here's forty dollars you can use to hire it hauled out here.
Us fellows have got to keep cases on the cattle, so you 'tend to this
fence." He laid the money and Fred's receipt upon the table and set
Patsy's plate over them to hold them safe against the wind that rattled
the shack. He had forgotten all about the three approaching riders,
until Patsy turned upon him sharply.

"Vot schrapes you been into now?" he demanded querulously. "Py cosh
you done somet'ings. It's der conshtable comin' alreatty. I bet you be
pinched."

"I bet I don't," Irish retorted, and made for the one window, which
looked toward the hills. "Feed 'em some breakfast, Patsy. And you drive
in and tend to that fencing right away, like I told you."

He threw one long leg over the window sill, bent his lean body to pass
through the square opening, and drew the other leg outside. He startled
his horse, which had walked around there out of the wind, but he caught
the bridle-reins and led him a few steps farther where he would be out
of the direct view from the window. Then he stopped and listened.

He heard the three ride up to the other side of the shack and shout to
Patsy. He heard Patsy moving about inside, and after a brief delay open
the door. He heard the constable ask Patsy if he knew anything about
Irish, and where he could be found; and he heard Patsy declare that he
had enough to do without keeping track of that boneheaded cowpuncher who
was good for nothing but to fight and get into schrapes.

After that he