ion.

Spite of past experience he believed, at that moment, every word which
Andy Green had uttered upon the subject of the proposed immigration. He
was about to tell Andy so, when Chip walked unexpectedly out of Silver's
stall and glanced from Weary to Andy standing still in the doorway.
Weary looked at him enquiringly; for Chip must have heard every word
they said, and if Chip believed it--

"Have you got that plat with you, Andy?" Chip asked tersely and with
never a doubt in his tone.

Andy swung toward him like a prisoner who has just heard a jury return
a verdict of not guilty to the judge. "I've got it, yes," he answered
simply, with only his voice betraying the emotions he felt--and his eye?
"Want it?"

"I'll take a look at it, if it's handy," said Chip.

Andy felt in his inside coat pocket, drew out a thin, folded map of that
particular part of the county with all the government land marked upon
it, and handed it to Chip without a word. He singled out a couple of
pamphlets from a bunch of old letters such as men are in the habit of
carrying upon their persons, and gave them to Chip also.

"That's a copy of the homestead and desert laws," he said. "I guess you
heard me telling Weary what kinda deal we're up against, here. Better
not say anything to the Old Man till you have to; no use worrying
him--he can't do nothing." It was amazing, the change that had come over
Andy's face and manner since Chip first spoke. Now he grinned a little.

"If you want to go in on this deal," he said quizzically, "maybe it'll
be just as well if you talk to the bunch yourself about it, Chip. You
ain't any tin, angel, but I'm willing to admit the boys'll believe you;
a whole lot quicker than they would me."

"Yes--and they'll probably hand me a bunch of pity for getting stung by
you," Chip retorted. "I'll take a chance, anyway--but the Lord help you,
Andy if you can't produce proof when the time comes."

CHAPTER 5. THE HAPPY FAMILY TURN NESTERS

"Say, Andy, where's them dry-farmers?" Big Medicine inquired at the top
of his voice when the Happy Family had reached the biscuit-and-syrup
stage of supper that evening.

"Oh, they're trying to make up their minds whether to bring the old
fannin'-mill along or sell it and buy new when they get here," Andy
informed him imperturbably. "The women-folks are busy going through
their rag bags, cutting the buttons off all the pants that ain't worth
patching no more, and getting fath