a thing! The men from Redmans have as much right to roam around
as we have. We haven't a vestige of definite proof that they set our
house ablaze, although we both know, darned well, that they and nobody
else did it."

Next morning early, shortly after the bank opened, Rattlesnake Dalton
nearly threw the proverbial fit in his office, when confronted by Phil
and Jim and presented with a certified cheque for one thousand
dollars, plus interest, with a demand for the deed to the Brantlock
Ranch.

Dalton knew better than try any more nonsense, so he had the deed made
out in proper form and handed over.

McAdam drove in to town shortly afterwards and had the transfer of the
property made to himself and completed the deal, thus ending the
careers of two would-be ranchers before they had properly begun.

"Over six thousand dollars in the bank, and nothing to do with it,"
exclaimed Jim, as soon as they were together in the street, and alone.
"That won't do, Phil. I have the fever now. We've got to make it sixty
thousand."

"I'm with you on that," answered Phil. "Let's go down to the Kenora
and talk it over in a corner over a real swell dinner. I haven't had
one for a month of Sundays--and I have a six thousand dollar
appetite."

That dinner at the corner table of the Kenora dining-room was the
birthplace of many future events. Jim talked volubly and he talked
often, for despite his nationality and its proverbial proneness to
caution, he was bubbling with enthusiasm over the new plan for
progress which he had conceived. Truth to tell, for the first time for
many a long day, he was the proud possessor of a half interest in six
thousand dollars and it was burning a hole in his pocket; but with all
his persuasiveness he had a hard task in converting his less
mercurially disposed partner to his cause.

The dinner was a masterpiece, but it took second place to the
conversation.

"Good night, bairn!" exclaimed Jim at last, "there is McWilliams--two
years ago he was city garbage man. Look at him now--luxuriates in his
five-thousand-dollar car; has his town residence and his ranch;
winters in California every year. Think of Fraser & Somerville:--three
years ago Fraser borrowed twenty-five cents from me to buy a meal in
the Chinese restaurant the day he blew in here, and he hasn't paid it
back, either, although both he and Somerville are a considerable way
up Easy Street. Peter Brixton was the conductor on the C.P.R. train
ru