Aint you goin' to stick
to your deal?"

"I generally make it my custom to stick to my deals," said Bill, looking
straight at Williams.

"Well, what about your deal with me last Monday night?" said Williams,
angrily.

"Let's see. Last Monday night," said Bill, apparently thinking back;
"can't say as I remember any pertickler deal. Any ov you fellers
remember?"

No one could recall any deal.

"You don't remember getting any paper from me, I suppose?" said
Williams, sarcastically.

"Paper! Why, I believe I've got that there paper onto my person at
this present moment," said Bill, diving into his pocket and drawing out
Williams' estimate. He spent a few moments in careful scrutiny.

"There ain't no deal onto this as I can see," said Bill, gravely passing
the paper to the boys, who each scrutinized it and passed it on with a
shake of the head or a remark as to the absence of any sign of a deal.
Williams changed his tone. For his part, he was indifferent in the
matter.

Then Bill made him an offer.

"Ov course, I believe in supportin' home-grown industries, and if you
can touch my figger I'd be uncommonly glad to give you the contract."

But Bill's figure, which was quite fifty per cent. lower than Williams'
best offer, was rejected as quite impossible.

"Thought I'd make you the offer," said Bill, carelessly, "seein' as
you're institootin' the trade and the boys here 'll all be buildin'
more or less, and I believe in standin' up for local trades and
manufactures." There were nods of approval on all sides, and Williams
was forced to accept, for Bill began arranging with the Hill brothers
and Hi to make an early start on Monday. It was a great triumph, but
Bill displayed no sign of elation; he was rather full of sympathy
for Williams, and eager to help on the lumber business as a local
"institooshun."

Second in command in the church building enterprise stood Lady
Charlotte, and under her labored the Hon. Fred, The Duke, and, indeed,
all the company of the Noble Seven. Her home became the centre of a new
type of social life. With exquisite tact, and much was needed for this
kind of work, she drew the bachelors from their lonely shacks and
from their wild carousals, and gave them a taste of the joys of a pure
home-life, the first they had had since leaving the old homes years ago.
And then she made them work for the church with such zeal and diligence
that her husband and The Duke declared that ranching had bec