CHANGES
With the passing of the weeks the two ranches had settled down to
routine duty. On the H2 conditions were changed greatly for the better
and Meeker gloated over his gushing wells and the dam which gave him a
reservoir on his north range, the early completion of which he owed
largely to the experience and willing assistance of Buck and the
Bar-20 outfit.
It was getting along towards Fall when a letter came to the Bar-20
addressed to John McAllister. Buck looked at it long and curiously.
"Wonder who's writing to Frenchy?" he mused. "Well, I've got to find
out," and he opened the envelope and looked at the signature; it made
him stare still more and he read the letter carefully. George
McAllister, through the aid of the courts, had gained possession of
the old Double Y in the name of its owners and was going to put an
outfit on the ground to evict and hold off those who had jumped it. He
knew nothing about ranching and wanted Frenchy McAllister, who owned
half of it, to take charge of it and to give him the address of Buck
Peters, the other half-owner. He advised that Peters' share be bought
because the range was near a railroad and was growing more valuable
every day.
Buck's decision was taken instantly. Much as he disliked to leave the
old outfit here was the chance he had been waiting for without knowing
it. He would never have set foot on the Double Y during Frenchy's
lifetime because of loyalty to his old friend. Had he at any time
desired possession of the property he and his friends could have taken
it and left court actions to the other side. But Frenchy was gone, and
he still owned half of a valuable piece of property and one that he
could make pay well. He was getting on in years and it would be
pleasant to have his cherished dream come true, to be the over-lord
and half-owner of a good cattle ranch and to know that when he became
too old to work with any degree of pleasure he need not worry about
his remaining years. If he left the Bar-20 one of his friends would
take his place and he was sure it would be Hopalong. The advancement
in pay and authority would please the man whom he had looked upon as
his son. And perhaps it would bring to Hopalong that which now kept
his eyes turned towards the H2. Yes, it was time to go to his own and
let another man come into _his_ own; to move along and give a younger
man a chance.
He replied to George McAllister at length, covering everything, and
took the letter to the bunk house to have it mailed.
"Billy," he said, "here's a letter to go to Cowan's th' first thing
to-morrow. Don't forget."
Buck started the fall work early and pushed it harder than usual for
he wished to have everything done before the new foreman took charge.
The beef roundup and drives were over with quickly, considering the
time and labor involved, and when the chill blasts of early Winter
swept across the range and whined around the ranch buildings Buck
smiled with the satisfaction which comes with work well done. George
McAllister, failing to buy Buck's interest, now implored him to go to
the Double Y at once and take charge, which he had promised to do in
time to become familiar with conditions on the winter-bound northern
range before the new herds were driven to it.
As yet he had told his men nothing of his plans for fear they would
persuade him to stay where he was, but he could tell Meeker, and one
crisp morning he called at the H2 and led its foreman aside. When he
had finished Meeker grasped his hand, told him how sorry he was to
lose so good a friend and neighbor, and how glad he was at that
friend's good fortune.
"I hope Cassidy _is_ th' man to take yore place, Peters," he remarked,
thoughtfully. "He's a good man, th' best in th' country, white,
square, and nervy. I've had my eyes on him for some time an' I'll back
him to bust anything he throws his rope on. He can handle that ranch
easy an' well."
"Yo're right," replied Buck, slowly. "He ain't never failed to make
good yet. Whoever th' boys pick out to be foreman will be foreman,
for th' owners have left that question with me. But Meeker, it's like
pulling teeth for me to go up to Montana without him. I can't take him
'less I take 'em all, an' I've got reasons why I can't do that. An' I
ain't quite shore he'd go with me now--yore ranch holds something that
ties him tight to this range. He'll be lonely up in our ranch house,
an' it's plenty big enough for two," he finished, smiling
interrogatively at his companion.
"Well, I reckon it'll not be lonely if he wants to change it," laughed
Meeker. "Leastawise, them's th' symptoms plentiful enough down here. I
was dead set agin it at first, but now I don't want nothing else but
to see my girl fixed for life. An' when I pass out, all I have is
hers."