"Oh, I come from up no'th a ways; but I ain't ever made your
business mine. I never saw your outfit until twenty minutes ago--but
I've seen other outfits."

"Can you handle cattle?" sez he.

"Yes," sez I--"and men."

"Well, I think you can join us," sez he, kind o' slow. "The cattle
don't seem to be as gentle as they did when we started. I think it
is because we are short handed and have to be a little too rough
with them." I didn't answer.

"Well, do you want the job?" sez he.

"Who's the foreman?" sez I.

"I am in charge," he answers stiff like.

"You're the owner, I know, but who's in charge o' the men?"

"I take full supervision," sez he.

"I don't want the job," sez I.

"All right," he snaps, "I don't recall havin' sent for you." "No
offense," sez I, "but up my way it's generally polite to inquire
about the appetite. If any one was to ask me, I'd say I was hungry.
If any one was to urge me, I'd be obliged to meet up with a little
food." I looked him gently in the eyes. He dropped his an' looked