the law into my own
hands--anyways I reckon I come here to set in judgment; but I wasn't no
good judge, because I was trying the case without having all of the
facts. But I'm this kind of man," says he, "that when I've made a
mistake, and know it, I'm game to stand up and say so. That's what I'm
doing now. I reckon I been wrong. Some things you can't help. I ain't
going to try to help this no more.

"The fact is, I reckon, maybe it's the best thing that could of
happened. It didn't happen through me. I done my best to keep it from
happening. That's where I was wrong. I'm glad of all this now and I take
back what I said. I've been a twenty-two carat, pink-eyed, black-striped
wild ass of the desert, though not halfway as big a fool as Curly. It
was him that got us all in wrong."

Old Man Wisner he stands up too; and he makes his confession that's good
for his soul. His Adam's apple kind of walked up and down his neck, but
he come through.

"Don't say no more, Colonel," says he. "I'm to blame for all this
myself. I was the biggest fool that ever was. That fence--why, that
fence now----"

James, or Jimmie, or Jim, and Bonnie Bell they looks at each other then
and laughs right out.

"You didn't build it high enough," says he; "you couldn't!"

"I'm glad I couldn't," says Old Man Wisner. "Things are going to come
out all right, the way they ought to come. I've learned a lot tonight--a
lot about being neighbors. Son, we had a neighbor and we didn't know it.
Maybe it's that way plenty times. We had one neighbor that has saved
your father from being broke and disgraced before all the
world--before tomorrow night. That's what kind of neighbors we had all
along," says he; "and we tried to build a fence and keep them away from
us! Yes; thank Gawd, I couldn't build the fence high enough," says he.

[Illustration: "She knowed where he carried his gun."]

"I knew something about this, dad," says James, or Jimmie, or Jim, then.
"I could of told you long ago that ranch deal couldn't win. Scale it
down, get at the real business and human values, and it ought to
win--and win big!"

Old Man Wisner he's always rather strong for organization. He looks over
at Old Man Wright and they both look at this young man; and they both
nod.

"That's a good idea," says Old Man Wright--"a damn good idea! Now then,
we're beginning to talk. Why can't we throw the two businesses in
together and make one hand wash the other, and let this young ge