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s。　　I　don't　blame　her；　though；〃　he　continued　rapidly。　　〃It's　kind　of　lonely　for　women；　you　know。　　They've　got　to　have　amusements　and　things。　　But　it's　God's　own　country；　believe　me；　and　I　would　go　back　to…morrow；　if　I　could。〃

〃You　still　own　your　ranch？〃

〃Yes；　can't　sell　easily。　　You　see　there's　not　much　broke　on　it　only　a　hundred　acres　or　so。〃

〃Why；　how　big　is　the　ranch？〃

〃Five　hundred　acres　and　a　wood　lot。　　I　did　not　farm　much；　though　mostly　cattle　and　horses。　　I　was　away　a　good　deal　on　the　trail。〃

〃The　trail？〃

〃Yes；　buying　cattle　and　selling　again。　　That　was　the　worst　of　it。　I　am　not　much　of　a　farmer；　though　farming's　all　right　there；　and　I　was　away　almost　all　of　the　time。　　I　guess　that　made　it　pretty　hard　for　the　missis　and　the　kids。〃

At　this　point　the　Widow　Martin　came　in　to　lay　the　table　for　tea。　Mr。　Sleighter　took　the　hint　and　rose　to　go。

〃You　will　do　us　the　pleasure　of　staying　for　tea；　Mr。　Sleighter？〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne　earnestly。

〃Oh；　do；〃　said　the　youngest　little　girl；　Nora；　whose　snapping　black　eyes　gleamed　with　eager　desire　to　hear　more　of　the　wonderful　western　land。

〃Yes；　do；　and　tell　us　more；〃　said　the　boy。

〃I　hope　you　will　be　able　to　stay；〃　continued　Mrs。　Gwynne。

Mr。　Sleighter　glanced　at　her　husband。　　〃Why；　certainly；〃　said　Mr。　Gwynne；　〃we　would　be　glad　to　have　you。〃

Still　Mr。　Sleighter　hesitated。　　〃Say；　I　don't　know　what's　come　over　me。　　I　feel　as　if　I　had　been　on　the　stump；〃　he　said　in　an　embarrassed　voice。　　〃I　ain't　talked　to　a　soul　about　that　country　since　I　left。　　I　guess　I　got　pretty　full；　and　when　you　pulled　the　cork；　out　she　come。〃

During　the　tea　hour　Mrs。　Gwynne　tried　to　draw　her　visitor　out　to　talk　about　his　family；　but　here　she　failed。　　Indeed　a　restraint　appeared　to　fall　upon　him　that　nothing　could　dispel。　　Immediately　after　tea　Mrs。　Gwynne　placed　the　Bible　and　Book　of　Prayers　on　the　table；　saying；　〃We　follow　the　custom　of　reading　prayers　every　evening　after　tea；　Mr。　Sleighter。　　We　shall　be　glad　to　have　you　join　us。〃

〃Sure　thing；　ma'am；〃　said　Mr。　Sleighter；　pushing　back　his　chair　and　beginning　to　rock　on　its　hind　legs；　picking　his　teeth　with　his　pen　knife；　to　the　staring　horror　of　the　little　girls。

The　reading　was　from　the　Scripture　to　which　throughout　the　centuries　the　Christian　Church　has　gone　for　authority　and　guidance　in　the　exercise　of　charity　and　in　the　performance　of　social　service；　the　story　of　the　Samaritan　gentleman　to　whom　the　unhappy　traveller　whose　misfortune　it　was　to　be　sorely　mishandled　by　thieves　owed　his　rescue　and　his　life。

Throughout　the　reading　Mr。　Sleighter　paid　the　strictest　attention　and　joined　in　the　prayers　with　every　sign　of　reverence。　　At　the　close　he　stood　awkwardly　shifting　from　one　foot　to　another。

〃Well；　I'll　be　goin'；〃　he　said。　　〃Don't　know　how　you　roped　me　in　for　this　here　visit；　ma'am。　　I　ain't　et　in　any　one's　house　since　I　left　home；　and　I　ain't　heard　any　family　prayers　since　my　old　dad　had　'ema　regular　old　Methodist　exhorter　he　was。　　He　used　to　pray　until　all　was　blue；　though　most　times；　specially　at　night；　I　used　to　fall　asleep。　　He　was　great　on　religion。〃

〃I　don't　suppose　he　was　any　the　worse　for　that；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne。

〃Not　a　mite；　not　a　mite；　ma'am。　　A　little　strict；　but　straight　as　a　string；　ma'am。　　No　one　could　say　anythin'　against　Hiram　Sleighter　H。　P。　Sleighter。　　I　was　named　for　him。　　He　used　to　pray　to　beat　creation；　and　then　some；　but　he　was　a　straight　man　all　right。　　And　to…night　your　kids　and　your　family　prayers　made　me　think　of　them　old　days。　　Well；　good…night　and　thank　you　for　the　good　time　you　gave　me。　　Best　I've　had　in　a　dog's　age。〃

〃You　will　come　again；　Mr。　Sleighter；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne；　giving　him　her　hand。

〃Yes；　and　tell　us　more　about　that　new　country；〃　added　her　son。　〃My；　I'd　like　to　go　out　there！〃

〃It's　a　wonderful　country　all　right　and　you　might　do　a　hull　lot　worse。〃



CHAPTER　V

WESTWARD　HO！


Mr。　Gwynne　accompanied　Mr。　Sleighter　to　the　door。　　〃Will　you　walk　down　to　the　store？〃　said　Mr。　Sleighter。

〃Very　well；〃　said　Mr。　Gwynne；　setting　off　with　him。

Mr。　Sleighter　evidently　had　something　on　his　mind。　　The　usual　fountain　of　his　speech　seemed　to　be　dried　up。　　As　they　drew　near　to　the　store；　he　seized　Mr。　Gwynne　by　the　arm；　arrested　him；　and　said：

〃Say；　Mr。　Gwynne；　you　ain't　got　any　right　to　be　in　business。　　You　ain't　got　the　parts；　and　that　Machine　Company　and　the　rest　of　'em　put　it　all　over　you。〃

〃We　needn't　go　into　that　now；　I　suppose；〃　said　Mr。　Gwynne。

〃No；　I　guess　I　am　buttin'　ina　thing　I　don't　often　dobut　I　am　off　my　stride　to…night　anyway；　and　I　am　doin'　what　I　never　did　in　all　my　life　before。　　I　guess　it　was　them　kids　of　yours　and　your　missis。　　I　know　it　ain't　my　business；　but　what　are　you　goin'　to　do　with　yourself？〃

〃I　don't　know　yet；〃　replied　Mr。　Gwynne；　declining　to　be　confidential。

〃Not　goin'　into　business；　I　hope。　　You　ain't　got　the　parts。　　Some　people　ain't　got　'em；　and　you　ain't。　　Goin'　to　farm？〃

〃No；　I　think　not。　　The　fact　is　I'm　about　selling　my　farm。〃

〃Selling　it？〃

〃Yes；　I　had　an　offer　to…day　which　I　am　thinking　of　accepting。〃

〃An　offer；　eh；　from　a　feller　named　Martin；　I　suppose？〃

〃How　did　you　know？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　I　just　figgered。　　Offered　you　about　a　hundred　dollars；　eh？〃

〃No；　I　wish　he　had。　　It's　worth　a　hundred　with　the　house　and　buildingsthey　are　good　buildings。〃

〃Say；　I　don't　like　to　butt　in　on　any　man's　business；　but　is　the　price　a　secret？〃

〃Oh；　no；　he　offers　four　thousand；　half　cash。〃

〃And　how　much　for　the　buildings？〃

〃Four　thousand　for　everything；　it's　not　enough　but　there　are　not　many　buyers　in　this　neighbourhood。〃

〃Say；　there's　nothing　rash　about　that　feller。　　When　do　you　close？〃

〃Must　close　to…morrow　night。　　He　has　a　chance　of　another　place。〃

〃Oh；　he　has；　eh？　　Big　rush　on；　eh？　　Well；　don't　you　close　until　I　see　you　some　time　to…morrow；　partner。〃

Mr。　Sleighter　scented　another　salvage　deal；　his　keen　eyes　gleamed　a　bit；　the　firm　lips　were　pressed　a　little　more　closely　together。

〃And　say；〃　he　said；　turning　back；　〃I　don't　wonder　you　can't　do　business。　　I　couldn't　do　anything　myself　with　a　missis　like　yours。　I　couldn't　get　any　smooth　work　over　with　her　lookin'　at　me　like　that；　durned　if　I　could。　　Well；　good…night；　see　you　to…morrow。〃

Mr。　Sleighter　spent　the　early　hours　of　the　following　day　among　the　farmers　with　whom　his　salvage　deal　had　brought　him　into　contact。　The　wrecker's　instinct　was　strong　in　him；　and　besides　he　regarded　with　abhorrence　the　tactics　of　Mr。　Martin　and　welcomed　an　opportunity　to　beat　that　gentleman　at　his　own　game。　　He　could　easily　outbid　the　Martin　offer　and　still　buy　the　farm　at　a　low　price。　　As　a　result　of　his　inquiries　he　had　made　up　his　mind　that　the　land　was　worth　at　the　very　least　eighty　dollars　an　acre　and　the　buildings　at　least　two　thousand　more。　　Five　thousand　would　be　a　ridiculously　low　figure　and　six　thousand　not　extravagantly　high　for　both　buildings　and　farm。　　The　farm　with　the　store　and　machine　business　attached　might　offer　a　fair　opening　to　his　son；　who　was　already　weary　of　school　and　anxious　to　engage　in　business　for　himself。

〃Guess　I'll　take　a　whirl　out　of　the　old　boy；〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃He's　a　durn　fool　anyway　and　if　I　don't　get　his　money　some　one　else　will。〃

In　the　afternoon　he　made　his　way　to　the　store。　　〃Boss　ain't　in？〃　he　inquired　of　the　clerk。

〃No；　he's　at　the　house；　I　guess。〃

〃Back　soon？〃

〃Don't　know。　　Guess　he's　busy　over　there。〃

〃Seen　Mr。　Martin　around？〃

〃Yes；　he　was　here　a　while　ago。　　Said　he　would　be　in　again　later。〃

Mr。　Sleighter　greatly　disliked　the　idea　of　doing　business　with　Mr。　Gwynne　at　his　own　house。　　〃Can't　do　no　business　with　his　missis　and　kids　around；〃　he　said　to　himself。　　〃Can't　get　no　action　with　that　woman　lookin'　on　seemingly。　　But　that　there　old　Martin　geyser　is　on　the　job　and　he　might　close　things　up。　　I　guess　I　will　wander　over。〃

To　his　great　relief　he　found　Mr。　Gwynne　alone　and　without　preliminaries；　and　with　the　design　of　getting　〃quick　action〃　before　the　disturbing　element　of　Mrs。　Gwynne's　presence　should　be　introduced；　he　made　his　offer。　　He　explained　his　purpose　in　purchasing；　and　with　something　of　a　flourish　offered　five　thousand　for　〃the　hull　plant；　lock；　stock　and　barrel；〃　cash　down　if　specially　desired；　but　he　would　prefer　to　pay　half　in　six　months。　He　must　have　his　answer　immediately；　was　not　anxious　to　buy；　but　if　Mr。　Gwynne　wanted　to　close　up；　he　only　had　to　say　so。　　He　was　not　going　to　monkey　with　the　thing。

〃You　have　made　me　a　much　better　offer　than　the　one　I　received　from　Mr。　Martin；　and　I　am　inclined　to　accept　it；　but　inasmuch　as　I　have　promised　to　give　him　an　answer　to…day；　I　feel　that　it's　due　to　him　that　I　should　meet　him　with　the　bargain　still　unclosed。〃

〃Why？〃　enquired　Mr。　Sleighter　in　surprise。

〃Well；　you　see　I　asked　him　to　hold　the　offer　open　until　this　afternoon。　　I　feel　I　ought　to　go　to　him　with　the　matter　still　open。〃

〃Want　to　screw　him　up；　eh？〃　said　Mr。　Sleighter；　his　lips　drawing　close　together。

〃No；　sir。〃　　Mr。　Gwynne's　voice　had　a　little　ring　in　it。　　〃I　consider　it　fairer　to　Mr。　Martin。〃

〃Don't　see　as　how　he　has　much　claim　on　you；〃　replied　Mr。　Sleighter。　〃But　that's　your　own　business。　　Say；　there　he　comes　now。　　Look　here；　my　offer　is　open　until　si