Winston of the Prairie

ul the wagon home. He also spent most of the day in repairing it, because occupation of any kind that would keep him from unpleasant reflections appeared advisab

emed very long to Winston, but evening came at last, an

bench, and all of them showed signs of use and glistened with oil. Opposite to them a few shelves were filled with simple crockery and cooking utensils, and these also shone spotlessly. There was a pair of knee boots in one corner with a patch partly sewn on to one of them, and the harness in another showed traces of careful repair. A bookcase hung above them, and its somewhat tattered contents indicated that the man w

or utility, and if that suggested the question why with such capacities he had not attained to greater comfort the answer was simple. Winston

lt the little loghouse very desolate and lonely. There was no other human habitation within a league, only a great waste of whitened grass relieved about the homestead by the raw clods of the fall

e protest in it. Defeat was plain between the lines of all he read, but he was going on stubbornly until the struggle was ended, as others of his kind had done, there at the western limit of the furrows of the plow and in the great province farther east which is one of the world's granaries. They went under and were forgotten, but they showed the

his was most unusual Winston only quietly moved his head when a bi

le while I've got my furs on.

ere's some chop in the manger, and you needn't spare the oats

f his furs, dropped into a chair beside the stove. "I got supper at Broughton's, and don't wa

ilver about it, while Winston, who lighted one, knew that the cigars were good. He had no esteem fo

me from, Courthorn

ned up one thousand dollars at Regent, and might have got more, but some folks down there seemed

Winston, with po

a little gesture

gain with t

rifles, and when at last with the aid of the United States cavalry peace was made, sundry broken men and mercenaries who had taken the pay of both parties, seeing their occupation gone, had found a fresh scope for their energies in smuggling l

his way?" s

was a curious little glint in his eyes which did n

ed and looked straight at the rancher. "Did it eve

pearance, while a vague but recognizable stamp of breeding and distinction still clung to Courthorne. He would have appeared more in place in the States upon the southern Atlantic seaboard, where the characteristics the Cavalier settlers brought with them are not extinct, than he did upon the Canadian prairie. His voice had even in his merriment a little imperious ring, his face was refined as well as s

tlement took me for you. You see, the kind of life I've led out here has set its mark on me, and

s you surmise. I don't think they had many estimable qualities from your point of view, but if they all didn't go quite straight they never went slow, and they had a few prejudices, which is why I found it advisa

xpected something in return for this confidence. There was also no need for reticence when every far

d to sell out or mortgage the place to the hilt, and during the last two years I haven'

ere when the result of every hour's work you pu

has held on to the end. Besides, until a few days ago I had a vague hope that by working double tides, I might get

said. "There's a slow stubborn devil in you, Winston, and I thi

e, and that leaves me stranded for the want of the dollars to buy another with. It's usually a very little thing that turns the scale, but now

nd moral law, dimly understood him. He was a fearless man, but he knew his courage would not have been equal to the strain of that six years' struggle against loneliness, physical fatigue, and adverse

pe, but rather the grim anticipation of the man offered

owly. "I would do

was agains

"Yes," he said. "Though I kept it while I could, the law was made for the safe-guarding of prosperous men, but with

s unlawful, but not aga

When you tell me what you want

me out to this country I should have resented that," he said. "Now, it seems to me that I'm putt

, you have got to trust

hing and occasionally hard to bear," said

ree from embarrassment. "I am,"

nows just how I stand with the rustlers though he can fasten no charge on me, and he will have several of his troopers looking out for me. Well, I want one of them to see and follow me south along the Montana trail. There's no horse in the Government service can keep pace wit

se, but not yourself,"

you one hundred dollars to ride the black for me. You can put my furs o

re will

m too plain, it will be a night or two later when I join them. In the meanwhile your part's quite easy. No trooper could ride you down unless you wanted him to, and you'll ride straight on to Montana--I'

ice which prompted him when he said, "Consideri

to me, and there will be your expenses. If it doesn't suit you

t Winston was not a fool,

to the light,"

there was just a trace of darker color in his forehead, but Wins

ou ask me th

cial interest as he said, "I fancied I saw a mark across y

eins showed a trifle, and he appeared to swallow something before he spoke. "A

uietly. "Will you go thro

and take the risk of the troopers overtaking you. You will remain away a fortnight at my expense, and pass in the me

to the venture, he felt that it was possible fate had in store for him something better than he had known in the past. In the meanwhile the cigar he held went out, and the striking of a match as Courthorne lighted another roused him suddenly from the retrospect he was sinking into. The bitter wind still moaned about the ranch, emphasizing its loneliness, and the cedar shingles rattled dolefully o

ng beyond the risk of a few days' det

that he lied. "On my honor. The troopers

ret it bitterly, the bargain was made. Then Courthorne laughed in his usual indolent fashion as he said, "Well, it's all decided, and I don't even ask your word. To-morrow will see

ds recalled the words. "You see, I had ambitions in my callow days,

ed the part of an honest man with the courage which had