inally with a banana in each hip pocket that he
had pilfered from the cook, together with four doughnuts in the crown of
his hat and a cake in his shirt front.

"I tried to get away with a pie, but it was too soft to carry, so I put
a handful of salt under the crust and set it back," he said, as he
disgorged his plunder. "He charged me for the bread and meat, and
wouldn't let me have no butter! It's fellers like the Canby outfit that
spoil a country."

When they had eaten, they spread their saddle-blankets in the dooryard
and with their saddles for pillows covered themselves with the slickers
they carried and so slept soundly until morning.

After breakfast, as they were leading their horses up the weed-grown
path to the cabin to saddle them, Pinkey's eye rested on the flowing
salt water stream.

"Can you beat it!" he commented. "Good for nuthin' but a bathin' pool
fer dudes----"

Wallie stopped in the path and looked at the friend of his bosom.

"Pink," he said, solemnly, "why wouldn't this make a dude ranch?"

Pinkey stared back at him.

"Gentle Annie," he replied, finally, "I told you long ago you was good
fer somethin' if we could jest hit on it. You're a born duder!"

"Thanks! I feel as complimented as the fellow in the Passion Play who is
cast for Judas Iscariot."

"I don't know what you're talkin' about--I've only seen a few
draymas--but you got the looks and the figger and a way about you that
I've noticed takes with women. You'd make a great dude wrangler. Bleeve
me, you've thought of somethin'!"

"I wasn't thinking of myself, but of the place here--the scenery--the
climate--fishing in the mountains--hunting in season----"

"_And_"--Pinkey interrupted--"the strongest stream of salt water in the
state fer mineral baths, with the Yellowstone Park in your front
dooryard!"

In his enthusiasm he pounded Wallie on the back.

"It _would_ be an asset, having the Park so close," the latter agreed,
his eyes shining.

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, grasshoppers, 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 Pi