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"Beasley is gettin' so rich he's buildin' a fence, an' didn't have enough help, so I hear"

"Beasley gettin' rich!" repeated Dale, thoughtfully "More sheep an' horses an' cattle than ever, I reckon?"

"Laws-a'-me! Why, Milt, Beasley 'ain't any idea what he owns Yes, he's the biggest man in these parts, since poor old Al's took to failin' I reckon Al's health ain't none improved by Beasley's success They've bad some bitter quarrels lately--so I hear Al ain't what he was"

Dale bade good-by again to his old friend and strode away, thoughtful and serious Beasley would not only be difficult to circuerous to oppose There did not appear h-shod to the do down the road, began to meet acquaintances who had hearty welcos, so that his pondering was interrupted for the ti He carried the turkey to another old friend, and when he left her house he went on to the village store This was a large log cabin, roughly covered with clapboards, with a wide plank platfor-rail in the road Several horses were standing there, and a group of lazy, shirt-sleeved loungers

"I'll be doggoned if it ain't Milt Dale!" exclailad to see you," greeted another

"Hello, Dale! You air shore good for sore eyes," drawled still another

After a long period of absence Dale always experienced a singular war when he ot back to the intimacy of his woodland, and that was because the people of Pine, with few exceptions--though they liked hiarded him as a sort of nonentity Because he loved the wild and preferred it to village and range life, they had classed him as not one of them Some believed hiht him an Indian in mind and habits; and there were many who called hiard for hiood-natured a in some turkey or venison; another wanted to hunt with him Lem Harden came out of the store and appealed to Dale to recover his stolen horse Leht home Jesse Lyons wanted a colt broken, and broken with patience, not violence, as was theboys at Pine So one and all they besieged Dale with their selfish needs, all unconscious of the flattering nature of these overtures And on the moment there happened by to testimony to Dale's personality