human
Say, Miss MacDonald, Floyd asked, by way of beginning a new paragraph,
gpt
He has a ranch, said Billy Louise with careful calm.
human
He's been working on it this summer, I believe.
gpt
Uh-huh--we were over there this morning. Them Y6 cattle up above his place are his, I reckon?
human
Yes, said Billy Louise.
gpt
He's been putting his wages into cattle for a year or so. He worked for Junkins last winter. Why?
human
Oh, nothing, I guess! Only he's the only stranger in the country, and his prosperity ain't accounted for--
gpt
Oh, but it is! laughed Billy Louise.
human
I only wish I had half as clear a ticket. When he isn't working out, he's wolfing; and every dollar he gets hold of he puts into that ranch. We've known him a long time. He doesn't blow his money, you see, like most fellows do.
gpt
fellows, and the occasion of his last
human
Well, of course, if you know he's all straight, that settles it. But it sure seems queer--
gpt
That fellow is straight as a string. Don't you suppose it's some gang over on the river, Floyd? I'd look around over there, I believe, and try to get a line on the unaccountables. There's a lot of new settlers come in, just in the last year or two, and there might be some tough ones scattered through the bunch. Better see if there has been any cattle shipped or driven through that way, don't you think?
human
We can try, Floyd assented without eagerness.
gpt
But as near as we can figure, it's too much of a drib-drab proposition for that. A cow and calf here and there, and so on. We got wind of it first when we went out to bring in a gentle cow that the deacon wanted on the ranch. We knew where she was, only she wasn't there when we went after her. We hunted the hills for a week and couldn't find a sign of her or her calf. And she had stuck down in the creek bottom all the spring, so it looked kinda funny.
human
There's a Y6 calf up there that's a dead ringer for the one we've been hunting, he observed.
gpt
But it's running with a cow that carries Junkins' old brand, So-- He looked apologetically into the calm eyes of Billy Louise.
human
Of course, I don't mean to say there's anything wrong up there, he hastily assured her.
gpt
But that's the reason I thought I'd ask you about that fellow.
human
Oh, it's perfectly right to make sure of everybody, smiled Billy Louise.
gpt
I'd do the same thing myself. But you'll find everything's all straight up there. We know all about him, and how and where he got his few head of stock, and everything. But of course you could ask Junkins, if you have any doubt--
human
Oh, we'll take your word for it. I just wanted to know; he's a stranger to our outfit. I've seen him a few times; what's his name? Us boys call him Noisy. It's like pulling a wisdom tooth to get any kinda talk out of him.
gpt
He is awful quiet, assented Billy Louise carelessly.
human
But he's real steady to work.
gpt
Them quiet fellows generally are, put in Mr. Birken.
human
You run stock in here too, do you, Miss MacDonald?
gpt
The big Ds, answered Billy Louise and smiled faintly.
human
I've been range-herding them back here in these foothills this summer. Do you want to look through the bunch?
gpt
Oh, no, not at all! I was wondering if you had lost any.
human
Nobody would rustle cattle from a lady, I hope? At any rate, I haven't missed any yet. The folks down in the Cove have, though.
gpt
Yes, I heard they had. That breed rode over to see if he could get a line on them. It's hard luck; that Charlie Fox seems a fine, hard-working boy, don't you think?
human
Yes-s, said Billy Louise shyly,