Ranching for Sylvia

. A telegraph office with a baggage-room attached occupied the middle of the low platform, a tall water-tank stood at the end, and three grain elevators towered high above a neighborin

t streets, thinly lined with sma

place," George remarked. "We'll stroll round it, and t

ndry, and a few dwelling-houses. Several dilapidated wagons and buggies were scattered about the uneven road. In the side street, disorderly rows of agricultural implements surrounded a store, and here and there little bo

y; we'll assume it's prosperous, though I haven't noti

f them moved. Passing behind them, George opened a door filled in with wire-mesh, and they entered a hot room with a bare floor, furnished with a row of

us up?" Geo

was th

d round his register, which was fitted i

rooms," Edg

that. We've

ter take it. Where

r, indicating a gap in

in this country

I were a mere piece of baggage, to be hustl

it after a while,"

ce-cooled drinks, served in what he thought were unusually sm

ive on the prair

ed the attendant. "It

very scantily furnishe

previous experienc

see any water," he remarked. "I'll take the j

ran back to the horizon, brightly green, until its strong coloring gave place in the distance to soft neutral tones. It was blotched with crimson flowers; in the marshy spots there were streaks of purple; broad squares of darker

nd as George came

rd the wooden town, he added: "What a frightful mess man can make of pretty

soon discover their opinion," George laug

essed in trousers and slate-colored shirts, and when they rested their elbows on the tablecloth, they left grimy smears. George thought the third man of the party, who was neatly attired, must b

steak; I know what th

steak with a nickeled knife which failed to make a mark on it. When he made a more determined effort, it slid away from him, sweeping som

y before I do more damage, and let

nt at first. You can't prospect righ

describing his companions on the

but I didn't learn his name, and he didn't g

n miles back. Guess he went on to the next station-a little farthe

oad?" Edgar broke in. "

y. Then he turned to his better-dressed companion. "What are

car on t

bille

oad's mistake. Grant o

hat he sa

of importance whose instructions would be treated wi

think of th

've seen them, I can't say as much fo

agent. "If they're not good enoug

e, I didn't know what the place was like; and, after al

tion that the latter meant to farm. Then he got up, followed by two of the others

to want a teams

s the answer. "But I'm afraid

een a careworn woman tearfully embracing him before their steamer sail

fe, and until I get used to things I'd be reasonable about the pay. I was told these little plac

for him. He sudden

ing now?" he asked a man who

rs a month,"

ady to start with us to-morrow. I'll take you at thirty dollar

replied the other, in a

de, Edgar looked at

id; "but considering that you'll have to

-the raising of the passage money by some desperate economy, the woman left behind with hardly enough to keep her a m

rudence never did appeal to me." He took one of the chairs in front of the building and filled his pipe before he continued: "We'll sit here a

oss the short grass. Reaching that, they pushed through the thin wood of dwarf birch and poplar, skirting little pools from which mallard rose: and then, crossing a long rise, they sat down to smoke on its farther side. Sage Butte had disappeared, the sun had dipped, and the air was growing wonderfully f

for a good deal. Once you get clear of t

yet what you're

sion. Ethel seems quite convinced that a little roughing it will prove beneficial. I might, however, stop out and try farming, which

George, "remai

in securing you on the same favorable terms. It has

ance, what two years on a prairie farm must have been

would manage to avoid a go

shirk a duty," Geo

filled h

as strange to hear that Canadian's opinions; but I've a notion that this country's a pretty severe touch

t accounts for a good de

hired man. The grass was wet with dew, the air invigoratingly cool, and for a time the fresh team carried them across the waste at an excellent pace. When he had got used to the frantic jolting, Edgar found the drive exhilarating. Poplar bluffs, little ponds, a lake shining amid tall sedges, belts of darkgreen wh

sand, and the sun was getting unpleasantly hot. For half an hour they drove on; and then the team came to a standstill, necked with spume, at the foot of a short, steep r

am," George told him, as he

, with clouds of grit flying up about them, and afterward came to a stop again. Next they tried pushing; and after several rests they arrived, breath

ink there is of thi

ered. "I know of one belt

n they faced the ascent. Short as the hill was, it took them some time to climb; and, with th

ean to rush the next hill right off, you will go without me." He tu

er answered cautiously. "Perhaps

scattered pines, clumps of bru

auling a load of wheat through this kind o

led them across lower ground to a strong wire fence, where it forked: one branch skirting the barrier along the edge of a muskeg, the other running

commented. "Driving's rather an

was long and rank, hiding the ruts and hollows in the trail; but after stopping a while for dinner in the shadow of a bluff, they jolted on, and in the af

George, "is S

they drew up before the house. It was double-storied, roomy, and neatly built of wood; but it was in very bad repair, and the barn and stables had a neglecte

id. "We'll put up the team, and then look rou