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And, in consequence, at every opportunity Dan McLagan cursed forcibly into the patient ears of his foreman. Now, Jim was enjoying a respite. Dan had retired to his house for supper, and he was waiting for his to be served. He was down at the corrals, leaning on the rails, watching the stolid milch cows nuzzling and devouring their evening hay. His humor was interested. They had eaten all day.
"Sure," added the other, to clinch what he believed to be his companion's approval. "And then?" The rancher stirred uneasily. The tone of Thorpe's inquiry suggested doubt. "And then?" McLagan repeated uncertainly.
"Y'see it makes you wonder what the future feels like doing in the way of kicks. Things are going good about now, and and I want 'em to keep on going good." McLagan laughed boisterously. "You've sure jest got to play hard to-day, let the future worry fer itself. Well, so long. I'll hand you the papers when you've selected the ground, boy. An' don't forget the black mare."
When I get married my wife'll see to things some. See the work is done while I'm here." McLagan grinned and nodded. "Guess you didn't seem like gettin' married jest now, talkin' of those things. You kind o' seemed 'down' some." Jim's eyes became thoughtful. "Makes you feel 'down' when you get remembering some things," he said.
Then his laugh died out, for Jim Thorpe wholly occupied his thoughts, and there was no room for laughter where Jim was concerned. He remembered Jim was making money and how. Suddenly he paused in his walk, and a delighted exclamation broke from him. "Gee! The very thing I've been looking for. He's got that land from McLagan. He's going to run a ranch. He's going to play big dog. Gee!
McLagan shrugged. "Guess I don't want wimmin-folk in mine. You're goin' to hold your job?" "Sure. You see, boss " Jim began to explain. But McLagan broke in. "You can have it for rent, boy," he said. "It suits me, if you don't mean quittin'." "I don't mean quitting," said Jim. "I'm going to run it with a hired man. Y'see I've got one hundred and fifty stock and a bit saved for building.
"Guess I ain't busy fer ten minutes." "That's more than enough," said Jim, readily. "It's about that land I was speaking to you of the other day. I told you those things about myself because of that. As I said, you didn't know much of me, except my work for you." McLagan nodded, and chewed the end of his cigar. His keen eyes were studying the other's face.
Dan McLagan shifted his cigar, and his face lit with a grin of satisfaction. "Seventy-five per cent. of calves," he murmured, glancing out at the sunlit yards. "Say, it's been an elegant round-up." Then his enthusiasm rose and found expression. "It's the finest, luckiest ranch in Montana in the country. Guess I'd be within my rights if I said 'in the world. I can't say more." "No."
Guess you've beat the devil in you to a hash. Yes; I need those horses, an' you can get 'em for me from McLagan." The crisp air of summer early morning, so fragrant, so invigorating, eddied across the plains, wafting new life to the lungs, and increased vigor to jaded muscles.
He had caught the fever; and the cattleman's fever is not easily shaken off. As McLagan would show no mercy to his own brother were he a proven cattle-thief, so Jim loathed the crime in little less degree. And he was about to face the world, his world, branded with that crime.
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