r knowed I had before. Why, sometimes, when
Neeter is rockin' leetle Bill, and singing and me settin' in the door,
towards evenin', and everything fed up and happy, why, do you know, I
feel jest like cryin'. Plumb foolish, ain't it?"

"I don't know about that, Sun."

"Well, you will some day," asserted Sundown, taking him literally. "'T
ain't gettin' married what makes a man, but it's a dum' poor one what
don't make the best of things if he is hitched up to a good girl. Only
one thing--it sure don't give a fella time to write much po'try."

Corliss did not smile. "You're living the poetry," he said with simple
sincerity.

"Which is correc', Billy. And speakin' of po'try, I reckon I got to go
feed them pigs. They's gruntin' somethin' scand'lous for havin'
comp'ny to our house--and anyhow, they's like to wake up leetle Bill."

And Sundown departed to feed his pigs.

CHAPTER XXIX

A MAN'S COUNTRY

"As for that," said John Corliss, gazing out across the mesa, "Loring
and I shook hands--over the line fence. That's settled."

Sundown had just dismounted. He stood holding the reins of his old
saddle-horse "Pill." He had ridden to the Concho to get his monthly
pay. "And pore leetle ole Fernando--he's gone," said Sundown. "That's
jest the difference between _one_ fella doin' what he thinks is right
and a _bunch_ of fellas shootin' up themselves. The one fella gets it
every time. The bunch, bein' so many of 'em, gets off. Mebby that's
law, but it ain't fair."

"There's a difference, Sun. A fight in the open and downing a man from
ambush--two mighty different things."

"Well, mebby. But I'm feelin' sad for that leetle Fernando jest the
same.--That Billy's new house?"

"Yes. They expect to get settled this month."

"Gee Gosh! I been so busy I missed a bunch of days. Reckon I got to
rustle up somethin' for a weddin' present. I know, be Gosh! I'll send
'em me picture. Billy was kind of stuck on it."

"Good idea, Sun. But I guess you'll miss it yourself."

"I dunno. Neeter ain't lookin' at it as much as she used to. She's
busy lookin' after leetle Bill--and me. 'Course I can get another one
took most any time."

"Make it two and give me one," said Corliss.

"You ain't joshin'?"

"No. I'll hang it in the office."

"Then she gets took--immediate."

Chance, who stood watching the two men, rose and wagged his tail.

Chance never failed to recognize that note in his master's voic