lared to the Major. And it was no idle boast, apparently, for Teeters
stood alone, supreme and unchallenged, the champion dude-wrangler of the
country.

"It's a kind of talent--a gift, you might say--like breakin' horses or
tamin' wild animals," he was wont to reply modestly when questioned by
those who followed his example and failed lamentably. "You got to be
kind and gentle with dudes, yet firm with them. Onct they git the upper
hand of you they's no livin' with 'em."

Five years had brought their changes to Teeters as well as to Prouty.

He was still faithful to Miss Maggie Taylor, but a subtle difference had
come into his attitude towards her mother. He was less ingratiating in
his manner, less impressed by the importance of her father, the
distinguished undertaker; less interested in her recitals of her musical
triumphs when she had played the pipe organ in Philadelphia. Her habit
of singing hymns and humming which had annoyed him even in the days when
he was merely tolerated, actually angered him.

Now, as the four horses attached to the old-fashioned stagecoach which
had been resurrected from a junk-heap behind a blacksmith shop, repaired
and shipped to the Scissor Outfit as being the last word in the
picturesque discomfort for which dudes hankered, the onlookers observed
with keen interest as the Dude Wrangler tore past the Prouty House,
"There must be a bunch of millionaires coming in on the local."

The horses kept on past the station, but by throwing his weight on one
rein Teeters ran them over the flat in a circle until they were winded.
Then he brought them dripping and exhausted to the platform, where he
said civilly to a bystander, indicating a convenient pickhandle:

"If you'll jest knock the 'off' leader down if he bats an eyelash when
the train pulls in, I'll be much obliged to you."

As is frequently the way with millionaires, few of those who emerged
from the day coach sandwiched in between a coal and freight car, looked
their millions. It was evident that they had reserved their better
clothing for occasions other than traveling, since to the critical eyes
of the spectators they looked as though they were dressed for one of the
local functions known as a "Hard Times Party."

The present party of millionaire folk seemed to be led by a bewhiskered
gentleman in plaid knickerbockers and puttees, who had travelled all the
way from Canton, Ohio, in hobnailed shoes in order instantly to be ready
f