Hiram.

Hiram seized the bridles of the work horses, and shook them out of
Pete's clutch.

"Tell your father to come here," commanded the young farmer, fire in his
eyes. "We'll settle this thing here and now.

"These horses are on Mrs. Atterson's land. I know the county stock
law as well as you do. You cut this fence, and your cattle are on her
ground.

"It will cost you a dollar a head to get them off again--if Mrs.
Atterson wishes to demand it. Now, call your father."

Pete raised a yell which startled the long-legged man striding over the
hill toward the Dickerson farmhouse. Hiram saw the older Dickerson turn,
stare, and then start toward them.

Pete continued to beckon, and began to yell:

"Dad! Dad! He won't let me have the hosses!"

Sam Dickerson came striding down to the waterhole--a lean, long,
sour-looking man he was, with a brown face knotted into a continual
scowl, and hard, bony hands. Yet Hiram was not afraid of him.

"What's the trouble here?" growled the farmer.

"He's got the hosses. I told you the fence was down and I was goin' to
water 'em----"

"Shut up!" commanded his father, eyeing Hiram. "I'm talking to this
fellow: What's the trouble here?"

"Your horses are on Mrs. Atterson's land," Hiram said, quietly. "You
know that stock which strays can be held for a dollar a head--damage or
no damage to crops. I warn you, keep your horses on your own land."

"That's your fence; if you don't keep it up, who's fault is it if my
horses get on your land?" growled Dickerson, evidently making the matter
a personal one with Hiram.

"Your boy here cut the wires."

"No I didn't, Dad!" interposed Pete.

Quick as a flash Hiram dropped the bridle reins, sprang for Pete, seized
him in a wrestler's grip, twisted him around, and tore from his pocket a
pair of heavy wire-cutters.

"What were you doing with these in your pocket, then?" demanded Hiram,
disdainfully, tossing the plyers upon the ground at Pete's feet, and
stepping back to keep the restless horses from leaving the edge of the
water-hole.

Sam Dickerson seemed to take a grim pleasure in his son's overthrow. He
growled:

"He's got you there, Pete. You'd better stop monkeyin' around here. Pick
up them bridles and come on."

He turned to depart without another word to Hiram; but the latter did
not propose to be put off that way.

"Hold on!" he called. "Who's going to mend this fence, Mr. Dickerson?"

Dickerson turned and eyed him coldl