ployer. Early as it was, the old man had
breakfasted, and now the wide black hat far back on his head, the spurs
on his big boots, bespoke his readiness to be riding.

At times he stood stock-still, his hands on his hips, staring down at
Blenham's lesser stature; at other times and in a deep, thoughtful
silence he strode back and forth in the great barn-like library, his
spurs jingling.

"Why, burn it, man," he exploded once during the fore part of the
interview, "the boy is a Packard! I'm proud of him. We're going to
make a real man out of Stephen yet. Haven't I said the words a dozen
times: 'Break a fool an' make a man!' I'm tellin' you, the las'
Packard to be spoiled by havin' too much easy money has lived an' died.
All we got to do with Stephen is put him on foot; set him down in the
good ol'-fashioned dirt where he's got to work for what he gets, an'
he'll come through. Same as I did. Yessir!"

Blenham waited for his signal to continue his report, and when he got
it, a look and a nod, he resumed, face, voice, and eye alike
expressionless of any personal interest in the matter.

"You know them nine big steers as strayed from here some time ago? I
tol' you about 'em two or three weeks ago? Well, I found 'em like I
said I would, all nine of 'em, an' on Ranch Number Ten."

"It's quite a way for cattle to stray," said the old man sharply.
Blenham shrugged carelessly.

"Oh, I dunno," he returned lightly. "I've knowed 'em to go fu'ther
than that. Well, I made a pass to haze 'em on back this way an' young
Packard blocks my play."

The old man's eye brightened.

"What did he say?" he asked eagerly.

"He said," said Blenham, picking at his hat-band, "as how if the stock
was yours which he didn't believe he'd hold 'em until you sent over
enough coin to pay for their feed. He said as how, if you couldn't be
decent you better anyhow leave him alone. He said hell with both of
us."

"He did?" cried old Packard. "He said that, Blenham?"

"He did," answered Blenham with a quick, curious, sidewise glance.

Packard's big hand was lifted and came down mightily upon his thigh as,
suddenly released, the old man's voice boomed out in a great peal of
laughter.

"Ho!" he cried, shouting out the words to be heard far out across the
open meadow. "Say to hell with me, does he? Holds my stock for
pasture money, does he? Defies me to do my worst, him a young,
penniless whippersnapper, me a millionaire an' a man