Part 28 (1/2)

”It _would_ be an a.s.set, having the Park so close,” the latter agreed, his eyes s.h.i.+ning.

Pinkey went on:

”You kin run dudes whur you can't run sheep or cattle. What you need is _room_--and we're there with the room. Fresh air, gra.s.shoppers, views any way you look--why, man, you got everything!”

”Except money,” said Wallie, suddenly.

Pinkey's face lengthened.

”I hadn't thought of that.”

For an instant they felt crushed. It was such a precipitous descent to earth after their flight.

They walked to the cabin, and saddled in a silence which was broken finally by Pinkey, who said vindictively:

”I'd rob a train to git money enough to turn fifty head of dudes loose on Canby. He'd be mad enough to bite himself. If he could help it he wouldn't have a neighbour within a hundred miles.”

Wallie's thoughts were bitter as he remembered the many injuries he had suffered at Canby's hands. It was a subject upon which he dared not trust himself to talk--it stirred him too much, although he had long ago decided that since he was powerless to retaliate there was nothing to do but take his medicine. As he made no response, Pinkey continued while he tightened the cinch:

”If you could make a dude ranch out o' this and worry him enough, he'd give you about any price you asked, to quit.”

”I'd ask plenty,” Wallie replied, grimly, ”but it's no use to talk.”

”It wouldn't trouble my conscience none if I hazed a bunch of his horses over the line, but horses are so cheap now that it wouldn't pay to take the chance.”

”There's the Prouty Bank,” Wallie suggested, ironically.

”Them bullet-proof screens have made cas.h.i.+ers too hard to git at.”

Pinkey spoke in an authoritative tone.

”Why don't you marry some rich widow and get us a stake?”

”Aw-w!” Resentment and disgust were in Pinkey's voice. ”I'd steal was.h.i.+ngs off of clothes lines first.” He added: ”I don't like them jokes.”

”I didn't know you were touchy, Pink.”

”Everybody's touchy,” Pinkey replied, sagely, ”if you hit 'em on the right spot. But, do you know, this dude ranch sticks in my mind, and I can't git it out.”

”We might as well let it drop. We haven't the money, so we're wasting our breath. We'll lose the jobs we've got if we don't get about our business. Let's leave the cattle in the corral and scout a little through the hills--it'll save us another trip. I don't want to come here again soon--it hurts too much.”

Pinkey agreed, and they rode gloomily along the creek bank looking for a ford. A few hot days had taken off the heavy snows in the mountains so quickly that the stream was running swift and deep.

”That's treach'rous water,” Pinkey observed. ”They's boulders in there as big as a house where it looks all smooth on top. I know a place about a mile or so where I think it'll be safe.”

They had ridden nearly that distance when, simultaneously, they pulled their horses up.

”Look at that crazy fool!” Pinkey e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed, aghast.

”It's--Canby!” Wallie exclaimed.

”n.o.body else! Watch him,” incredulously, ”tryin' to quirt his horse across the crick!”