aks, I expected them to be
jealous, because nobody ever pays any attention to THEM. Kate Price is
the worst--she's an old maid. The others have had husbands and can act
superior.

"Well, I didn't mind the things they said then; I took that for granted.
But a week or so ago Florence Hallman came, and she did stir things up
in great style! Since then the girls have hardly spoken to me except to
say something insulting. And Florence Grace came right out and called me
a traitor; that was before little Buck and I took to 'riding fence' as
you call it, for you boys. You imagine what they've been saying since
then!"

"Well, what do you care? You don't have to stay with them, and you know
it. I'm just waiting--"

"Well, but I'm no quitter, James. I'm going to hold down that claim
now if I have to wear a sixshooter!" Her eyes twinkled at that idea.
"Besides, I can stir them up now and then and get them to say things
that are useful. For instance, Florence Hallman told Kate Price about
that last trainload of cattle coming, and that they were going to cut
your fence and drive them through in the night--and I stirred dear
little Katie up so she couldn't keep still about that. And therefore--"
She reached out and gave Andy Green's ear a small tweek--"somebody found
out about it, and a lot of somebodys happened around that way and just
quietly managed to give folks a hint that there was fine grass somewhere
else. That saved a lot of horseflesh and words and work, didn't it?"

"It sure did." Andy smiled up at her worshipfully. "Just the same--"

"But listen here, nice, level-headed Katiegirl has lost her temper since
then, and let out a little more that is useful knowledge to somebody.
There's one great weak point in the character of Florence Hallman; maybe
you have noticed it. She's just simply GOT to have somebody to tell
things to, and she doesn't always show the best judgment in her choice
of a confessional--"

"I've noticed that before," Andy Green admitted, and smiled
reminiscently. "She sure does talk too much--for a lady that has so much
up her sleeve."

"Yes--and she's been making a chum of Katie Price since she discovered
what an untrustworthy creature I am. I did a little favor for Irish
Mallory, James. I overheard Florence Grace talking to Kate about that
man who is supposed to be at death's door. So I made a trip to
Great Falls, if you please, and I scouted around and located the
gentleman--well, anyway, I gave t