ication for a post office, and by the time the papers come
from the department there'll be plenty o' signers here. Concessions
will be granted at reasonable figures. Farming lands will be sold at
from fifty dollars an acre up to a hundred and fifty, accordin' to
location, depth to water, et cetera. This will include stock in the
company's water right. Water will be developed up in the mountains, on
a site that goes with the ranch, at an approximate expense of one
hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. I am organizing my water
company now, and will let all old friends in on the ground floor, of
course. Water at Butte Springs, by the way, Ragtown's present supply,
will cost twenty-five cents a head for stock, and five cents a drink
for human beings who are recognized citizens of Ragtown, the
Tweet-to-be. Old friends, however, are hereby extended the privilege
of watering free of charge while life shall last.

"So folks, we're off in a bunch. Keep your eye on Ragtown, metropolis
of the Homesteader's Promised Land of Milk and Honey."

"But how about your next payment?" asked Jerkline Jo. "If I'm not too
impertinent, can you meet it?"

"Right this moment," replied Tweet, "I couldn't even look like I wanted
to meet it. But why worry for nearly three months more? Ragtown will
pay it for me. I'll meet her when she's due--never fear. I always get
out some way. My middle name is Millions. Gogettersburg is my
birthplace. You folks and Pete are my first failure in convincin'
others of my shrewdness, honesty, and unbounded ability."

For an hour Mr. Tweet told of his glowing plans, but he found it
difficult to convince either Jo or Hiram that he had success within his
grasp. Not until the conversation worked around to the mountain-road
franchise did Jerkline Jo realize that, in befriending Orr Tweet, she
had enlisted an ally who would and could help her.

"Why, we've got 'em by the tail, girl!" he cried. "Just keep on payin'
what they ask till Ragtown moves down here, which will happen as soon
as Demarest gets settled. Then it'll cost this Drummond to travel
across Paloma Rancho exactly what it has cost you to come through the
pass. And I'll get me a roughneck with a gun, too, and see that he
pays. And if he eventually falls down and quits, you make him live up
to that franchise and keep that road in perfect repair, or sue him, by
golly! Leave it to me, Jo. I'll fix his timepiece. Every spare
dollar