ll, I get notions about things
sometimes. And I can't, somehow, feel just right about him taking up
this jumping business. I don't know why. I guess it's just a feeling,
because I can see you don't like him. And the boys don't seem to,
either, for some reason. I guess it's because he won't let 'em get right
after those fellows and drive 'em off the ranch. They've been uneasy as
they could be all day." She sat down upon a rough stool just inside
the door, and looked up at him with troubled eyes. "And I'm getting
it, too--seems like I'd go all to pieces if I can't do SOMETHING!"
She sighed, and tried to cover the sigh with a laugh--which was not,
however, a great success. "I wish I could be as cool-headed as Thomas,"
she said, with a tinge of petulance. "It don't seem to worry him none!"

"What does he think of Baumberger? Is he going to let him take the case
and handle it to please himself?" Good Indian was tapping his boot-toe
thoughtfully upon the bottom step, and glancing up now and then as a
precaution against being overheard.

"I guess so," she admitted, answering the last question first. "I
haven't had a real good chance to talk to Thomas all day. Baumberger has
been with him most of the time. But I guess he is; anyway, Baumberger
seems to take it for granted he's got the case. Thomas hates to hurt
anybody's feelings, and, even if he didn't want him, he'd hate to say
so. But he's as good a lawyer as any, I guess. And Thomas seems to like
him well enough. Thomas," she reminded Good Indian unnecessarily, "never
does say much about anything."

"I'd like to get a chance to talk to him," Good Indian observed.
"I'll have to just lead him off somewhere by main strength, I guess.
Baumberger sticks to him like a bur to a dog's tail. What are those
fellows doing down there now? Does anybody know?"

"You heard what he said to me just now," Phoebe said, impatiently. "He
don't want anybody to go near. It's terribly aggravating," she confessed
dispiritedly, "to have a lot of ruffians camped down, cool as you
please, on your own ranch, and not be allowed to drive 'em off. I don't
wonder the boys are all sulky. If Baumberger wasn't here at all, I guess
we'd have got rid of 'em before now. I don't know as I think very much
of lawyers, anyhow. I believe I'd a good deal rather fight first and
go, to law about it afterward if I had to. But Thomas is so--CALM!"

"I think I'll go down and have a look," said Good Indian suddenly. "I'