circumstances to develop him.

"If he does fight," said Jim, breaking the silence, "if he succeeds in
landing on us, why, then, look out for war. I'll put my last cent into
M. & T. before I'll give him a chance at it."

"Is he likely to grab the road?"

"Maybe he'll try. But I'll have five hundred men with guns in his way.
I'll tell you, West, I'm not going to give in. I never have yet."

"No," said Harvey, thoughtfully, "I don't believe you have." And he added,
"I saw Porter to-night."

"Where?"

"Up at the Bismarck. McNally was with him."

"Anybody else?"

"His daughter."

"Pretty girl, I hear."

"Yes,"--Harvey spoke slowly,--"she is. A very pretty girl. Her father
seems to be a gentleman."

"Oh, Porter's all right. He's doing what 'most any man in his place would
do. It's business. There's nothing personal in it."