e country. He was called Big Jim simply to distinguish him from Little Jim, who was as well known in Laramie as his father. Little Jim, when but five years of age, rode

linked his eyes and wrinkled his forehead as he digested this or that pleasantry, and either gave it the indifferent acknowledgment of "Shucks! Think you can josh

yfield, garden, corrals, stable, and house. Town was simply a place to which you went to buy things, get the mail, exchange views on the weather and grazing, and occasionally help the hands load a shipment of cattle. Little Jim helped by sitting on the

use of her golden hair, her blue eyes, and her ability to "talk back" to the regular customers in a manner which they seemed to enjoy. Big Jim married her when he was

years slipped by, with no promise of easier conditions, she became dissatisfied, shrewish, and ashamed of her lack of pretty things to wear. Little Jim was, of co

uld take care of herself, what hit Big Jim the hardest was the fact that she could give up Little Jim without so much as a word about him. Every one liked Little Jim, and the mother's going proved something that Big Jim had tried to ignore for several years--that his wife cared actually noth

local bank, in his wife's name. But being a true son of the open, he wanted to see the country; so he decided to travel horseback, with a

ained by staying where they were. Big Jim had lost his interest in the ranch. Moreover, there had been some talk of another man, in Laramie,

were veritably one. Smiler was a sort of chuckle-headed, good-natured animal, meek, so long as Little Jim's prerogatives were not infringed upon, but a cyclone of yellow wrath if Little Jim were approached by any one in other than a friendly spirit. Even when Big Jim "roughed"

d Big Jim, as Little Jim scurried about next m

n against a rope. He had not even drea

stily. He stood holding a bit of old tie-rope in his hand, pondering this last unthinkable development of the situation. Smiler was to be left behin

e. Smiler stood expectantly watching the preparations. He knew that something important was about to happen, and, with the loyalty of his kind, he was ready

wn. He bit his lips. Tears welled to his eyes and drifted slowly down his cheeks. He had no

tter go ahead and h

o do. What--" Big Jim glanced a

is attitude spoke for itself. He

y rebelled. And because it was the first time, Big Jim realized it

r. "Smiler'll get sore feet on the trails, J

n have half of my grub, and I reckon I can pack h

blame me if Smiler p

tough he bites barb wire. Anyhow, you said we was goi

suggested Big Jim as he pulled up a cin

ly listening to the controversy about himself as t

o to chasin' around and runnin' yourself ragged gettin' nowhere. If you ge

and suddenly licked Little Jim's face. Little J

r rough-and-tumble about the yard. He blinked and turn

on ole Lazy, dad. Gi

do anything there was to be done. When he was

itch. Little Jim ducked under Lazy and took the rop

said the boy, surveying the outfit.

set,

d. If we run on to one of them stingin' lizar

the old pack-horse ahead. "Don't know,

ingin'

ep

iler can, then. C

ought to be with them. Little Jim had wept when Smiler was i

ain't goin' with us, is

rugged his

west. Thought you said w

south, aft

d where. Little Jim glanced back to where Smiler padded along, his tongue out and his

! But don't you go to cuttin' dad's trail till h

a dust-begrimed counten

ig and important riding beside his dad. There had been some kind of trouble at home--and

o talk of his willingness to go anywhere and share any kind of luck. But his resolve to speak evapora

and was about to say so when his father checked him with a gesture. Little Jim saw his father shift his belt round so that his gun hung handy. He

walk. Little Jim saw the two men eye each other closely. Th

e boy, not knowing just what to say, yet feel

oad, neither speaking to the other. And Little Jim was not blind to the si

in visioning the future. Arizona

ig Jim and that man would have had it out, there on the road. And Jenny Hastings would have been the cause of their

he road. A far-away cloud of dust rol