ng about his 'wildman' tricks. You'll find
that out for yourself in good time. But he's a crackerjack blacksmith
and can show you all of the trade that is worth showing."

"I haven't the strength to be a smith."

"Not now;--but you have the frame and you've got to build on it.

"The job's worth twenty dollars a week to start, and it's yours for
the taking. I did the asking from Hanson this morning. Are you on?"

"Of course I'm on."

"All right!--six o'clock to-morrow morning at Pederstone's shop, one
block down the hill and two blocks to the left."

Langford chuckled.

"What are you grinning at?" asked Phil.

"Oh,--just thinking what you'll be able to do with that rusty-headed,
son-of-a-gun McGregor after a month or two under Hanson."

"Thanks! I've had some McGregor, and I'm not greedy. I'm not at all
anxious for more."

"What? See here, Phil,--you've got to beat that lobster stiff if it
takes you a year. It took me all I knew to turn the trick, and I had
to keep off drink for six months to do it, but there was something
inside of me that just wouldn't stay quiet till I licked the stuffing
out of him. He's a bully. He's the craftiest, sneakiest, most
underhand skunk in the Valley. He's at the bottom of most of the
trouble with cattle and feed hereabout, but he's too damned wary to be
caught.

"I'm surprised at the Mayor having anything to do with him. But, of
course, the Mayor's a cattleman himself, and, give Rob Roy McGregor
his due, there isn't a better man on stock this side of Calgary."

"And I've to go blacksmithing with the set purpose of eating this
fellow up?"

"No, you're going blacksmithing for the purpose of setting yourself
up, you rickle of bones! Licking McGregor can be your side line. When
you beat him, you'll know you are in pretty good shape."

"All right,--I'm on!" agreed Phil. "But who is this Royce Pederstone?
Why is he giving up his work?"

"Who? why? and wherefore? At times you're a regular bairn for asking
questions, but when you're wanted to talk you're as silent as the
tomb.

"Royce Pederstone has been here since the flood. He's a good
blacksmith, only he never finishes a job. If he is making a gate, he
stops at the last rivet and Hanson has to drive it home. If he is
shoeing a horse, he forgets a nail. If he is making a fish hook, he
omits the barb. It is the same with his land deals; he buys land and,
for the time being, forgets he owns it so far as selling again is
conc