"I'll tell you what once happened to me. I was working for a blamed
hard boss, and it doesn't matter why I quit without getting my wages
out of him, but he wasn't feeling good when I lit out behind a
freight-car. By bad luck, there was a trooper handy when a train-hand
found me at a lonely side-track. Well, that policeman didn't know what
to do with me. It was quite a way to the nearest guard-room; they
don't get medals for corraling a man who's only stolen a ride, and he
had to watch out for some cattle rustlers; so wherever he went I had to
go along with him. We got quite friendly, and one night he said to me,
'There's a freight that stops here nearly due. I'll go to sleep while
you get out on her.'"

The teamster paused and added with a laugh:

"That's what I did, and I'd be mighty glad to set the drinks up if I
ever meet that man off duty. We'd both have a full-size jag on before
we quit."

"And you're one of the fellows who're running Hardie's temperance
campaign!" Flett said dryly.




CHAPTER XI

DIPLOMACY

Flett left the team at George's homestead. Bidding him take good care