that had been forced out
of business by the settling of the range land; who could name dozens
of cattle brands once seen upon the range, and never glimpsed now from
spring roundup until fall.

Must the Flying U brand disappear also? The good old Flying U, for whose
existence the Old Man had fought and schemed since first was raised the
cry that the old range was passing? The Flying U that had become a part
of his life? Andy let his cigarette grow cold; he roused only to swear
at the porter who entered with dust cloth and a deprecating grin.

After that, Andy thought of Florence Grace Hallman--and his eyes were
not particularly sentimental. There was a hard line about his mouth
also; though Florence Grace Hallman was but a pawn in the game, after
all, and not personally guilty of half the deliberate crimes Andy laid
upon her dimpled shoulders. With her it was pure, cold-blooded business,
this luring of the land-hungry to a land whose fertility was at best
problematical; who would, for a price, turn loose the victims of her
greed to devastate what little grazing ground was left.

The train neared Havre. Andy roused himself, rang for the porter and
sent him after his suitcase and coat. Then he sauntered down the aisle,
stopped beside Florence Grace Hallman and smiled down at her with a
gleam behind the clear candor of his eyes.

"Hard luck, lady," he murmured, leaning toward her. "I'm just simply
loaded to the guards with responsibilities, and here's where I get off.
But I'm sure glad I met yuh, and I'll certainly think day and night
about you and--all you told me about. I'd like to get in on this land
deal. Fact is, I'm going to make it my business to get in on it. Maybe
my way of working won't suit you--but I'll sure work hard for any boss
and do the best I know how."

"I think that will suit me," Miss Hallman assured him, and smiled
unsuspectingly up into his eyes, which she thought she could read so
easily. "When shall I see you again? Could you come to Great Falls in
the next ten days? I shall be stopping at the Park. Or if you will leave
me your address--"

"No use. I'll be on the move and a letter wouldn't get me. I'll see yuh
later, anyway. I'm bound to. And when I do, we'll get down to cases.
Good bye."

He was turning away when Miss Hallman put out a soft, jewelled hand.
She thought it was diffidence that made Andy Green hesitate perceptibly
before he took it. She thought it was simply a masculine shynes