thirty or forty old cows with unweaned
calves and a bull or two. Then there's a bunch of wild, unbranded
yearlings, probably twenty or thirty, over on that pasture by the
cliffs. He's got no feed, no hay put up, and has probably been selling
off some of the better cows and calves."

"How much are you set back in this debacle?" asked the midget,
dropping his bantering tone.

"The Bar-O ranch owes me, not the government; I have always advanced
the money. Two hundred and eighty dollars. You see," Finch hastened to
explain, "the government has an area in there that's rather
inaccessible. They've been holding it for settlement. It's more than
the Bar-O folks need, but there's no one else, unless I bring in sheep
men and open up an old controversy. So, in the years past, I've
haggled money out of the Barrows, just a little at a time, but we've
kept friendly until now. Now, it looks like I'm up against the iron."

"You're not so bad off," chuckled Davy, "you've had a fine lot of
experience. Here's my proposition on your case. If the receiver
accepts my offer of a deed without possession, I'll give you a hundred
dollars. If I get possession in the next two years, and you allot me
the grazing rights to that area, I'll pay you the balance. If I don't
get possession in that time, you can charge off the balance due. Do I
hear any takers?" said the little man, simulating the call of an
auctioneer.

"Well, I'm a taker," said Finch resignedly. "It's a rough road, but it
seems the only way. What's your reaction, Logan? Are you a taker?"

"I'm a taker, when there's anything to take. How are you to get the
money in here?" he asked of Davy. "Without a bank, we can't handle
checks or drafts. How do you plan the payment?"

"Is there a telegraph station in Adot? No? Well, that's too bad. If
there was a commercial pay station there, I could have the money here
this afternoon. As it is, I suppose I would have to have the actual
currency shipped by express to Laramie or Cheyenne. Where do you do
banking?" he asked of Logan.

"I have an account with the Guaranty at Laramie and with the First
National at Cheyenne. I hope to have our bank here opened by the
holidays."

"The holidays would be too late. Hulls might kill somebody, or
voluntarily move out and spoil the trade. Also, I'll have to have
added money--have to open an account to get funds with which to
appease Hulls or to live on, while I am working at it. I have never
been in Lar