right,"
said he to Mears, nodding his head toward McCloud, as they walked up
from the caboose. "That's all I want to say. Some of these fellows
have been a little shy about going out with him; they've hounded me
for months about stepping over his way when Sinclair and his mugs
struck. I reckon I played my hand about right."

CHAPTER XIV

THE QUARREL

Spring found the construction of the valley line well advanced, and
the grades nearing the lands of the Dunning ranch. Right-of-way men
had been working for months with Lance Dunning, over the line, and
McCloud had been called frequently into consultation to adjust the
surveys to objections raised by Dicksie's cousin to the crossing of
the ranch lands. Even when the proceedings had been closed, a strong
current of discontent set from the managing head of the Stone Ranch.
Rumors of Lance Dunning's dissatisfaction often reached the railroad
people. Vague talk of an extensive irrigation scheme planned by
Sinclair for the Crawling Stone Valley crept into the newspapers, and
it was generally understood that Lance Dunning had expressed himself
favorably to the enterprise.

Dicksie gave slight heed to matters as weighty as these. She spent
much of her time on horseback, with Jim under the saddle; and in
Medicine Bend, where she rode with frequency, Marion's shop became
her favorite abiding-place. Dicksie ordered hats until Marion's
conscience rose and she practically refused to supply any more. But
the spirited controversy on this point, as on many others--Dicksie's
haughtiness and Marion's restraint, quite unmoved by any show of
displeasure--ended always in drawing the two closer to each other.

At home Dicksie's fancies at that time ran to chickens, and crate
after crate of thoroughbreds and clutch after clutch of eggs were
brought over the pass from far-away countries. But the coyotes stole
the chickens and kept the hens in such a state of excitement that
they could not be got to sit effectively. Nest after nest Dicksie
had the mortification of seeing deserted at critical moments and left
to furred prowlers of the foothills and canyons. Once she had managed
to shoot a particularly bold coyote, only to be overcome with
remorse at seeing its death-struggle. She gained reputation with
her cousin and the men, but was ever afterward assailed with the
reflection that the poor fellow might have been providing for a
hungry family. Housekeeping cares rested lightly on Di