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_To My Wife_

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. IN RUDE BORDER-LAND 1
II. DESOLATION 9
III. THE BOX R RANCH 23
IV. BEN'S NEW HOME 37
V. THE EXOTICS 44
VI. THE SOIL AND THE SEED 53
VII. THE SANITY OF THE WILD 66
VIII. THE GLITTER OF THE UNKNOWN 74
IX. A RIFFLE OF PRAIRIE 83
X. THE DOMINANT ANIMAL 94
XI. LOVE'S AVOWAL 106
XII. A DEFERRED RECKONING 117
XIII. A SHOT IN THE DARK 134
XIV. THE INEXORABLE TRAIL 148
XV. IN THE GRIP OF THE LAW 164
XVI. THE QUICK AND THE DEAD 185
XVII. GLITTER AND TINSEL 193
XVIII. PAINTER AND PICTURE 204
XIX. A VISITOR FROM THE PLAINS 217