smart kids, but if they thought they were smarter than their
dad they sure had a change of heart coming to them.

"Supposin' it is old Scotty. Do you reckon, Al, I've got you along for
a guide, to point out what my eyes is getting too poor to see? As for
Cheyenne," he reverted angrily to the argument, "as for Cheyenne, when
you've growed to be a man, you'll find it's just as much the mark of a
fool to go along suspecting everybody as it is to bank on everybody.
You think now it's funny to put the Judas brand on every man you don't
know. It ain't. It's a kid's trick. Boys git that way when they begin
to sprout hair under their noses. I been pretty patient with yuh, Al.
You're growing up fast, and you're feeling your oats. I make
allowances, all kinds. But by the humpin' hyenas, don't you start in
telling me where to head in at with my own outfit! If you do, I'll
jest about wear out a willer switch on yuh!"

This to a youth almost old enough to vote was dire insult. Al pulled
up his horse. "Run your own outfit and be darned to yuh!" he cried
hotly, and spurred off in the direction of the ranch.

Tom laughed shortly and rolled a cigarette. "Thinks now it'll bust up
the round-up if he goes," he opined. "Lucky for my kids I ain't as
strict as my old dad was; they wouldn't have any hide left, I
reckon."

Up loped Aleck Douglas then, riding stiff-legged, his bony elbows
jerking awkwardly with the motion of his horse, a rusty black vest
dangling open under his coat which flapped in the wind. That the
Douglas wrath rode with him Tom saw from the corner of his eye and
gave no sign.

"Hello," said Tom casually and drew a match along the stamped fork of
his saddle. "You're quite a stranger." He lighted his cigarette,
holding his reins lightly in one hand while he did so; gave the reins
a gentle flip to one side and sent his horse after a cow and calf that
showed symptoms of "breaking back."

"Mister Lorrigan, 'tis aboot a spotted yearlin' that I've come to
speak with ye. I've found the hide of her in the brush beneath yon
hill, and the brand is cut from it. But I wad swear to the hide wi'out
the brand. 'Twas a yearlin' I ken weel, Mister Lorrigan." He rode
alongside, and his close-set little eyes regarded keenly Tom's face.

"A spotted yearling with the brand cut out, hey? That looks kinda bad.
Have you got the hide with you?"

"I have no got the hide wi' me, but I ken weel whaur it lies, Mister
Lorrigan, and I thinkit s