plishments.

Too, in said thesis, she would make some radical changes in the
paragraphs touching on "influences of pioneer habits and traits in
community upbuilding, etc." The recent conduct and tactful
accomplishments of Landy Spencer were the reasons for such a change.
Heretofore, she had welcomed old Landy as a visitor to the B-line for
the reason that Grandaddy liked him, wanted to confab and badger about
the old days. She had casually learned that Landy had had to work as a
boy, as a youth, and as a young man, that he had accumulated enough so
that he could now enjoy the play-days once denied him. Yes, she would
change her notes to say: "uncouth verbiage and slatternly dress are
often assets in gaining information and are no hindrance in granting
loyalty and devotion."

The journey home, despite the uncertainties pending, was a joy-ride
for the two. Landy, as was his wont, clutched the armrest of the car
and said nothing. Time was, when safe in a saddle, he had thrown reins
to the wind "en allowed that critter a spell of fancy worm-fence
buckin', but a-ridin' a auto wuz dangerous business."

Arriving at the B-line stables, the party paused for a final
conference. Tomorrow would be Friday. In the early hours Davy and
Landy would make a furtive visit to the Bar-O ranch to see if Ugly
Collins had carried out his plans to evacuate the resisters. "Maybe
they set fire to the house or poisoned the cattle," suggested Davy.
Landy poo-pooed the idea.

"They're on a slow train," he explained. "In that outfit they can't do
over six miles an hour. A fire would announce their malice, en a
sheriff would overtake 'em before they reached North Gate. They don't
know about cattle-pizen--thar's no loco weed around here."

Saturday was the date of the entertainment in Adot. Davy and Landy
would ride over to the B-line and go to town in Adine's roadster. In
Adot, Davy would again contact Logan and fix the date to meet him in
Cheyenne on Monday. "That check--the draft thing--will be there by
that time," was Davy's opinion. "I hope I can pry Welborn loose from
his digging and delving long enough to take me over that road again."

"You don't have to do that," interposed Adine. "I'll drive you to
Cheyenne. I'm as anxious as anyone to get this thing settled. This
Bar-O thing has been a neighborhood problem, an obsession, a thorn in
the flesh, ever since Grandaddy was a young man. I want to be a party
in removing the thorn. I'll have J