of the pregnant conversations of the Plains.

"Mornin', friend," said Sam.

"Mornin', sir," said the other.

"Which way you headin', friend?" asked Sam.

"Well, sir," came the answer, slowly, "I rather reckon you've got me.
I've just been movin' on out. I want to locate, but I reckon my team
could travel a little further if they had to." This with a certain
grimness in his smile, as though he realized the whimsicality of the
average motive which governed in that day in quests like his. "Is
there much travel comin' through here this season?" he resumed, turning
in his seat and resting one foot on the wheel as he sat still perched
on the high wagon seat.

"Well," replied Sam, "they ain't so much just yet, but they will be
pretty soon. You see, the Land Office is about sixty mile east of here
yet, and folks is mostly stoppin' in there. Land around here is pretty
much all open yet. If they move the Land Office to the track-end, of
course all this land will be taken up a good deal faster."

"Is it good farmin' land around here?"

"Sure. Better'n it is farther west, and just as good as it is farther
east. Wheat'll do well here, and it ain't too cold for corn. Best cow
country on earth."

"How is Ellisville doing now?"

"Bloomin'."

"Yes, sir, so I heard farther back. Is it goin' to be a real town?"

"That's whatever! How can it help it? It's goin' to be a division
point on the road. It's goin' to have all the cattle-shippin' trade.
After a while it'll have all the farmin' trade. It's goin' to be the
town, all right, don't you neglect that. They's fifteen thousand head
of cattle in around here now. Town's got two hotels, good livery
stable--that's mine--half a dozen stores, nigh on to a dozen saloons,
an' two barber-shops. Yes, sir, Ellisville is the place!"

"Which way are you bound, sir?" asked the stranger, still sitting,
apparently in thought, with his chin resting on his hand.

"Well, you see, they's another town goin' up below here about twenty
mile--old man Plum's town, Plum Centre. I run the mail an' carry folk
acrost from Ellisville to that place. This here is just about halfway
acrost. Ellisville's about twenty or twenty-five mile north of here."

Sam spoke lucidly enough, but really he was much consumed with
curiosity, for he had seen, behind the driver of the wagon, a face
outlined in the shade. He wondered how many "women-folk" the new mover
had along, this being ever a vital q