laughed.

"My, but that was a great coup. You're a dandy pair! I just wanted to
wish you both the best of luck right at the start."

"Thanks awfully!" grinned Jim, "for we sure are getting it."

"Oh, tush! This is nothing. Okanagan ranchers don't worry about a
little snow in November or December. It's a good warm blanket for the
roots of the trees when the cold comes along, and a fine drink for
them later on in the spring-time.

"Here's something for your first meal on the ranch. Who's to be
cook,--you Jim, or Phil?"

Phil glanced over quickly and Eileen's cheeks took on a rosier tint.

"Oh, Jim's to be the rancher and I've to earn a living for both in
the meantime," answered Phil, "so I guess he will be cook--unless we
can hog-tie one somewhere."

Eileen handed them a large parcel from under her oilskin.

"Well,--that's all, boys," she said. "I'm going to Victoria pretty
soon, to be dad's house-keeper. But I'll be out to see you before I
go. You're off on your own at last,--and that's the only way. If you
don't like ranching, sell out. But whatever you do,--oh boys!--keep on
your own. Don't ever work for the other fellow any more. Stay out on
your own. One is always of most value to one's-self. I wish I could
preach that from the hill-tops. Wage slaving for somebody else is the
curse of the times."

"Hush!--you rascally little socialist; do you wish to ruin all the
millionaires and trust companies by giving away their trade secrets in
this way?" dryly commented Jim.

Eileen laughed.

"Well,--good-bye, Jim! Good-bye, Phil! And jolly good luck!"

With a whirl and a jump she turned and made off. But the cheery
sunshine of her presence and her hearty greeting kept radiating over
the two, leaving a warmth and a cheerfulness around them, where a few
moments before had been cold and grumpiness.

They reached their destination at last, unhitched and turned the
horses into a large barn in the rear of the dwelling house.

There was no doubting the splendidness of the ranch proper, with its
acres of young fruit trees set out in rows with mathematical
exactitude, and its pasturage which was now blanketed with snow.
Neither, alas! was there any doubting the miserableness of the
broken-down two-storied, log-built barn of a place that was meant for
their future home.

Jim and Phil shook the icy water from their clothes, stamped their
feet and went inside.

The house was damp and cheerless, and evidently had not b