to stay down awhile?"

"Yes, I'll hang around some."

"Come over to the ranch. Glad to see you any time. Some old
huntin' pards of yours are workin' for me."

"Thanks, Beasley. I reckon I'll come over."

Beasley turned away and took a step, and then, as if with an
after-thought, he wheeled again.

"Suppose you've heard about old Al Auchincloss bein' near
petered out?" queried Beasley. A strong, ponderous cast of
thought seemed to emanate from his features. Dale divined
that Beasley's next step would be to further his advancement
by some word or hint.

"Widow Cass was tellin' me all the news. Too bad about old
Al," replied Dale.

"Sure is. He's done for. An' I'm sorry -- though Al's never
been square --"

"Beasley," interrupted Dale, quickly, "you can't say that to
me. Al Auchincloss always was the whitest an' squarest man
in this sheep country."

Beasley gave Dale a fleeting, dark glance.