enuine Agreement."

"Is a real, genuine Agreement," continued the other.

"Between Jim Langford and me, and stands good."

"Between Jim Langford and me, and stands good."

"Sorry to disappoint you, boys!--but Dalton remembers now that he
didn't steal my horses,--he bought them.

"Now Rattler, darling!--Phil Ralston and I are taking up that
Agreement and want possession of the ranch right away."

Dalton licked his lips.

"There's two thousand plunks due me to-day on that there agreement."

"And there's the money, my bonnie boy!"

Jim threw Hannington's marked cheque on the table. Phil followed with
ten one-hundred-dollar bills.

"Make out your receipt, son,--quick!"

Rattlesnake Jim turned a sickly white and looked at the two before him
in a blank kind of way, then his eyes travelled to the three men by
the window and over to the crowd at the door, none of whom had any
sympathy for him, but, on the contrary were all aching for the
pleasure of dipping him--or anyone else for that matter--into the
nearby horse-trough.

Slowly Dalton opened his drawer, took out his receipt book, made out
the necessary document and handed it over.

"Guess you've won!" he said, picking up the cheque and money.

"Call off your dogs now, and get to hell out of this!"

"Gee, Rattler, but you're polite with your customers," remarked Phil
with a smile.

"Ta-ta, son!" cried Jim, "another thousand little bucklets in six
months and you are fully paid up. Dirty, rotten fraud,--eh, my wee
mannie!"

At the door Jim raised his voice.

"Thanks, fellows! Phil and I are going ranching and we haven't time
for booze any more, but you go on down to the Kenora and tell Charlie
Mack to give you a couple of rounds each at my expense. I'll 'phone
him as soon as we get home.

"You're a dog-goned bunch of real, live sports,--every mother's son of
ye."

CHAPTER XIX

Ranching De Luxe

A team of horses and a wagon were standing at the front entrance to
Mrs. Clunie's boarding house.

It was the same team and wagon that Jim Langford took over from
Rattlesnake Dalton with the Brantlock Ranch.

It was early morning and still dark, but the two would-be ranchers had
already loaded up the wagon with their tools, bedding and personal
effects.

With a nod of satisfaction to each other, they grinned, tied their
saddle horses on behind, clambered into the front of the wagon and
started off.

This ranching fad was entirely Jim's, for Ph