The range and grange hustlers on the ranch

Front matter

t

Copight N° _ 7t^-OL

COPHUGHT DEPOSn'.

Contents

Chapter Page

I. “Pardners^^ 7

II. Making a Start in the World ]3

Chapter I ‘^pardners^^

A BOY lay curled up asleep on a baggage truck at the Short Line station in Butte late one Saturday afternoon.

Another boy came leisurely down the platform regarding the sleeping lad curiously.

^ ^He must be pretty tired to go to sleep there,’’ decided the newcomer. ‘‘Perhaps he has come a long way and is waiting for a train. ’ ^

Seating himself on another truck, he looked reflectively at the sleeping boy, who suddenly opened his eyes, stared sleepily at the other youngster, then sat up, blinking.

“ Hello, he said. “Who are youT’ “Hello,” was the answer. “My name^s Eodney Rogers. What^s your name!”

“Glen Stevens,” was the quick reply. “Pretty hard place for a nap,” ventured Rogers sympathetically.

‘‘Well, yes; but it is better than some places where I have slept. Do you live in Butte

Rodney Rogers nodded. He was still regarding the other boy inquiringly. The latter appeared to be about Rogers’s own age, though somewhat taller and more rugged, with face well browned, showing that he had been living out of doors for some time. Rodney, after a few moments ’ study, had decided that he might like the young stranger. Perhaps something of the same thing was in the mind of the waking boy. The latter got up, stretched himself, yawned, then strolling over, sat down on the truck with young Rogers.

“Do you live in Butte, too?” asked Rodney.

“No, I am from Iowa.”

“Whew! You are a long way from home, aren’t you?”

“Yes,”

“Where you going?”

“I’m going down into the Centennial Valley. I had thought of going to Dillon, where I understand there are some big ranches.”

“Then you are going to work on a ranch there, eh?” questioned Rodney.

“Yes, I hope to do so, though I have no place, as yet. ’ ’

Rogers ’s blue eyes lighted up with new interest.

^‘So am 1. That is, I am going to look for work on a ranch, too,^^ he replied.

‘‘Ton arel’^

‘‘Yes; hnt I haven T a job, either. Wouldn’t it be nice if you and I could go along together and get a job on the same ranch!”

“It would be fine!” exclaimed Glen.

“Have you a call, too!” demanded Rodney, his face suddenly sobering.

“A call!” questioned the other wonderingly.

“Yes, a call to the soil.”

The strange boy laughed.

“I guess you might call it that. I’m a farmer. I was brought up on a farm and know how to do almost everything about a farm, and I like it. Nothing else suits me quite so well, in fact, I do not know much else but farming. That is all I am good for.”

“Then I am sure we shall be friends,” laughed Rodney. “I am determined to be a farmer, too.”

The hands of the two boys met in a firm clasp, thus sealing a friendship that was to endure for many years to come. From that moment on they felt as well acquainted as though they had known each other for a long time. Nor had they been impulsive in thus swiftly ratifying a friendship ; both boys were instinctively good judges of human nature.

Where had you thought of going asked Glen.

^AVell, it is strange, but I was of the same mind as yourself. I had thought of Dillon, too. We will talk it over. We have plenty of time. How did you chance to be out here looking for work?^’

Because the big ranches are out here — the big things are done in this part of the world. You see I know about the large farms because I have heard all about them at the agricultural school. I went to the school at Ames, Iowa. ’ ’

‘ ^ Indeed ! ’ ’ Rodney regarded his companion with even more curiosity than before. To have attended an agricultural school was a distinction not lost upon young Rogers.

^‘My father lost his money and his farm, and I could not complete my course. I decided to go to work, and here I am. I didnT want to start in at home, so I went as far away as I could go.

^Ht must have cost you a lot of money to travel,’’ suggested Rodney.

^^Not so much. You see, I was locked in a box car and didnT get out until I had ridden nearly two hundred miles on my way. I thought I was never going to get out of the place until they carried me out. What little money I have I keep to buy food, and I haven’t had any too

HUSTLEKS ON THE RANCH 11 much of that. How do you intend to travel — by freight r’

‘‘No, I rather thought I would send myself by express,’’ grinned Rodney, whereat both laughed heartily.

“You must be rich, then,” decided Glen.

“I’m anything but rich,” replied Rodney. “In fact, I’m very poor. I’ve been working as office boy for a mining and milling company, but I was discharged to-day. Their business is dull and they are cutting down their force of employes. They offered to take me on in the fall, but I hope to be a long way from here by that time. ’ ’

“Perhaps we’ll both be full-fledged farmers before fall,” said Glen hopefully. “AYhy don’t you pack your stuff and come with me to-night? We can take the night train for Dillon.”

“I can’t start out quite so soon as all that,” replied Rogers, “because I shall have to talk things over with mother first. She doesn ’t know yet that I’ve lost my position. You had better come home with me, and stay over Sunday. Mother and I live in a cottage up on the hill. My father died when I was quite young and mother works in a store, but if I become a success in the farming business she won’t have to work much longer. If I can get a place on a ranch I’ll send her every cent of my wages that

I can spare. She ^11 be surprised to hear that I wish to be a farmer. l\e never told her about feeling the call of the soil. She’ll understand, however. She always understands and sympathizes. ’ ’

“Perhaps she won’t care to take a strange boy into the house,” said Glen doubtfully.

“Nonsense,” replied Rodney confidently. “You don’t know mother. She’s neither cranky nor suspicious. She knows I wouldn’t bring home a boy unless he were the right sort of fellow. ’ ’

“How do you know that I’m the ^ right sort of fellow’?” demanded Glen abruptly.

“I’m sure that you are,” responded Rodney promptly, “and that settles it. Will you come with me?”

“I certainly will,” replied Glen Stevens heartily. “Then if your mother’s willing for you to go, we’ll start out Monday morning. What do you say?”

“It’s a go,” agreed Rodney. “We will stick: together no matter what happens and Jiustle things when we get the chance. We’re pardners from now on.”

Chapter II Makiistg A Stakt In The World

T he ‘‘call of the soiP’ was and had been for many months a matter of serious import to Rodney Rogers. Since the death of his father some years before, Rodney and his mother had lived in a little one-storied cottage in the suburbs of Butte, Montana. Mr. Rogers had left his family practically penniless and his wife had been obliged to seek employment as a saleswoman in a millinery store in Butte in order to support herself and boy.

She was determined, however, that her son should have at least a common school education, and by dint of many sacrifices Rodney had that spring completed his course in the public school. He was now fifteen years of age, stocldly built, blue-eyed, fair-haired, with an expression of purpose and resolute determination looking out from his boyish face. He had understood plainly from tfie time of his father's death what poverty meant, and had shown his appreciation of his mother's efforts by trying to earn money whenever the opportunity presented itself. Scarcely a week passed that Rodney did not manage to earn a dollar or two after school hours, every cent of which he turned over to his mother with unspeakable pride. He never complained at being unable to take part in the amusements of his playmates, nor did he demand the spending money that he knew his mother could not afford to give him.

The day after he had finished his course in school, the lad had hurried down town, and before going home that night had secured a position as office hoy with a mining company at a salary of three dollars a week. Here he had worked faithfully, and although the fact of his discharge had been something of a shock to him, still he cherished the proud consciousness that it was for no dishonorable reason.

^^To tell you the truth, Glen,’’ Rodney confided as the two boys toiled up the steep hill to the Rogers cottage, ^H’m rather glad that the company discharged me.”

‘^That’s a cheerful way to look at the matter,” replied Glen.

^Ht’s like this,” Rodney continued. ‘H’ve had the ^soil’ fever for years, I think. Every spring the call of the soil grows stronger. It gets into my blood and makes me feel as though I must run away from the town and out into the country for good and all. I graduated from public school last s]Dring and took a position the same day. Now that I’m through with school, and have lost my job, I feel free for the first time to think about going on a ranch.

‘^You’ll never be satisfied until you try it/^ asserted Glen positively. “It’s the only life for me.”

^ ‘ There ^s mother in the door now ! ’ ’ exclaimed Rodney as they neared the cottage. “She’s wondering why I’m late. She has to go back to the store on Saturday nights, so we always have an early supper. ’ ’

“What makes you so late, dear?” called Mrs. Rogers as the two boys entered the tiny yard.

“Lots of things have happened,” laughed Rodney, kissing his mother affectionately. “Mother, this is Glen Stevens. He and I are going to be pardners. I’ll tell you all about it while we eat supper.”

“How do you do, Glen?” said Mrs. Rogers, extending her hand to the boy with a friendly smile that at once made him feel at ease. “I am always glad to meet Rodney’s friends. Now come in and have supper, boys, for I must hurry back to the store.”

During the progress of the meal Rodney related to his mother the story of his discharge from the office, his meeting with Glen and his desire to leave Butte and begin ranch life.

‘ ‘ Why, Rod ! ’ ’ exclaimed his mother when he had finished, ^ ‘ I never knew that you had what cent of wliich he turned over to his mother with unspeakable pride. He never complained at being unable to take part in the amusements of his playmates, nor did he demand the spending money that he knew his mother could not afford to give him.

The day after he had finished his course in school, the lad had hurried down town, and before going home that night had secured a position as office boy with a mining company at a salary of three dollars a week. Here he had worked faithfully, and altliough the fact of his discharge had been something of a shock to him, still he cherished the proud consciousness that it was for no dishonorable reason.

^‘To tell you the truth, Glen,’’ Rodney confided as the two boys toiled up the steep hill to the Rogers cottage, ‘H’m rather glad that the company discharged me.”

That’s a cheerful way to look at the matter,” replied Glen.

^Ht’s like this,” Rodney continued. ‘H’ve had the ^soil’ fever for years, I think. Every spring the call of the soil grows stronger. It gets into my blood and makes me feel as though I must run away from the town and out into the country for good and all. I graduated from public school last spring and took a position the same day. Now that I’m through with school, and have lost my job, I feel free for the first time to think about going on a ranch.

“You’ll never be satisfied until you try it,^’ asserted Glen positively. “It’s the only life for me.”

“There’s mother in the door now !” exclaimed Rodney as they neared the cottage. “She’s wondering why I’m late. She has to go back to the store on Saturday nights, so we always have an early supper.”

“What makes you so late, dear?” called Mrs. Rogers as the two boys entered the tiny yard.

“Lots of things have happened,” laughed Rodney, kissing his mother affectionately. “Mother, this is Glen Stevens. He and I are going to be pardners. I’ll tell you all about it while we eat supper.”

“How do you do, Glen?” said Mrs. Rogers, extending her hand to the boy with a friendly smile that at once made him feel at ease. “I am always glad to meet Rodney’s friends. Now come in and have supper, boys, for I must hurry back to the store.”

During the progress of the meal Rodney related to his mother the story of his discharge from the office, his meeting with Glen and his desire to leave Butte and begin ranch life.

“Why, Rod!” exclaimed his mother when he had finished, “I never knew that you had what you term ‘a call to the soil.’ You have never spoken of it to me before.”

know that,” admitted Eod. didn’t wish to bother you with my dreams when there seemed to be no chance of making them come true. Last Tuesday night I went to hear that lecture in the opera house. The speaker, John J. Hall, is one of the greatest ranch owners in the west. His lecture was about the opportunities for young men on the big farms and ranches. I can’t remember all he said, but it was great. The last part of the lecture was the best of all, and it went something like this:

‘For our future we must look to the boys of America, who never yet have failed to respond to the call of duty. To-day the call is loud and clear. The farms, the ranches need you, boys. We’re falling behind in all the products of the farm just because our American boys and young men are running away from the farms instead of running to them to seek employment. You are the ones to help save the country. Will you heed the call of the farms and ranches? Will you?’ ”

Eod’s voice took on an appealing tone as he repeated the great speaker’s concluding words. In his earnestness he half rose from his chair. Then flushing at some sudden recollection, he sat down again and said, with a short laugh :

^^What do you suppose I did the other night at the lecture, mother

don’t know, I’^m sure,” smiled his mother. ‘‘Tell us what you did.”

“When Mr. Hall said ‘Will youU the last time I was so excited that I forgot where I was and shouted ‘yes’ at the top of my voice,” confessed Rod. “Of course everyone laughed, but Mr. Hall said he was glad to know that at least one boy had decided in favor of ranch life.”

Mrs. Rogers and Glen laughed a little at Rod’s confession.

‘ ‘ I think I should have shouted ‘yes, ’ too, ” admitted Glen. “How I wish I might have heard that lecture.”

“Now, boys, I must leave you,” said Mrs. Rogers, rising from the table. “We’ll have a good, long talk about your plans to-morrow.”

“Good-bye, mother,” said Rod, as he accompanied her to the door five minutes later. “You’re the best mother a fellow ever had. I hate to go away and leave you, but it’s the only way I’ll ever make a start in the world. You’ll say I can go, won’t you, mother?”

“We’ll see about that to-morrow,” smiled his mother. ‘ ‘ I must have time to think things over. I wish you to do whatever is best for you to do, remember that. Rod.”

When Mrs. Rogers had gone the two boys

18 THE EANGE A^D GEANGE swept the kitchen and washed the dishes ; then, sitting side by side on the steps of the cottage, they entered into an absorbing discussion of farm life tliat lasted until Mrs. Eogers returned from her work at ten o^clock.

The next day being Sunday, Eodney had plenty of time to more fully unfold his pet project to his mother. It was plain to be seen that his heart was set on finding employment on a ranch. In this resolve he was earnestly seconded by Glen. Mrs. Eogers had closely observed Glen Stevens during the short time he had been Eodney ’s guest, and was fully convinced as to his uprightness and honesty. Since her son was determined to strike out for himself, she felt satisfied that Glen’s companionship would do Eodney no harm. Her judgment told her that Glen was honorable and self-reliant.

‘‘You haven’t said that I can go, motlier,” Eodney reminded her at supper that night. “Please say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ and if it’s ‘no,’ I’ll promise not to grumble or complain.^’

Mrs. Eogers looked wistfully at her son.

“It is ‘yes,’ Eodney, if you are convinced that farming is your vocation. I shall miss you sadly, but I feel that in so important a matter as choosing your life occupation I have no right to stand in your way. I am sure that you and Glen will do whatever is right, wherever you may be.”

HUSTLEKS ON THE RANCH 19 will,” chorused both boys.

' ' You just wait, mother, ’ ’ cried Rodney. ‘ H ’ll have a farm of my own one of these days and then you shall come to live with me. Think how happy we’ll be.”

Mrs. Rogers smiled indulgently at Rodney’s enthusiasm.

^H’m going to pack my things to-night,” Rodney declared, ‘Hor we’ll have to get up early to-morrow morning. I ’ll take that old traveling bag that belonged to father to put my stuff in. It will hold everything I shall need.”

‘‘Very well,” assented Mrs. Rogers. “What about money, Rodney! You must take at least five dollars with you. You can scarcely get along with less than that.”

Rodney looked reflective.

“I’ll take it on one condition, mother,” he said slowly, “and that is that I’m to send it back from my first month’s wages, wherever I get work, and as much more with it as I can spare.”

“Just as you please,” replied his mother. But she privately resolved that whatever money Rodney sent her, instead of being used for household expenses, should be placed to the lad’s credit in one of the local banks.

The two boys awoke at daybreak the next morning, and dressing rapidly, Rodney hurried to the kitchen, where he found his mother preparing the last breakfast he would eat at home for perhaps many months. A lump rose in the boy^s throat as he suddenly realized how much he should miss his mother, but bravely smothering his feelings, he greeted her cheerily. Mrs. Eogers, equally brave, allowed no shadow of the coming separation to mar Eodney’s last breakfast at home, and the meal was eaten almost merrily.

Saying good-bye proved a harder task, but both mother and son kept up the same spirit of courage. As the two boys trudged down the hill, Eodney turned repeatedly to wave his hand to his mother as she watched him from the door of the cottage, until a bend of the road hid her from view.

On reaching the station the lads found that they still had some time to wait for their train, and that the ticket office was not yet open.

Seating themselves on one of the wooden benches inside they began a low-toned discussion regarding the possibilities offered by farm and ranch life, nor were they aware that they had an interested listener in the man seated next to them. Suddenly he leaned forward.

^‘Good morning, lads,” he said.

Both boys looked quickly about at the stranger. He was a well-dressed, middle-aged man, with searching gray eyes and a keen, yet kindly face.

^ ‘ Good morning, sir, ^ ’ they responded politely, could not help overhearing part of your conversation, and I will admit that it interested me. You are looking for work, are you notU’

‘‘Yes, sir; work of a certain kind,^^ answered Rodney. “We would like to work on a ranch.

“Exactly. Have you ever worked on a ranch

“No, sir; but my friend has. He has attended an agricultural school, too. He knows a great deal about farming.’’

“A little, not a great deal,” corrected Glen Stevens. “I have just scraped the outside edges of the business, that’s all.”

“We are both anxious to learn and willing to work, no matter how hard.”

“You will have to work hard. Ranching is not play. It is hard, wearing and sometimes disheartening work, but for the right man it offers inducements found in few professions or businesses to-day. Perhaps, after you have tried it, you will change your mind,” suggested the stranger, with a twinkle in his eyes.

“No, sir, I know I shall not,” returned Rod eagerly. “I have the call. I have it strongly. I have had it for a long time. ’ ’

“You have the call?”

Rogers went on to explain what he meant by the “call/^ Then he related Avith considerable enthusiasm what the speaker had said at the lecture, growing eloquent as he repeated the words that had made such a deep impression upon him.

“That’s what I mean by the call, sir,” added the lad in conclusion.

“I guess you will do,” smiled the stranger. “Yours is the sort of enthusiasm that wins in the long run. How would you lads like to work for me?”

“For you, sir?” questioned Rodney perplexedly.

“Yes.”

“Are you a rancher, sir?”

“I am called such. I operate seventy thousand acres of my own, leasing nearly a quarter of a million acres more from the government forest reserves for grazing purposes. We do general farming, raising sheep in large numbers, as well as cattle on the lower ranges. We are looking for young men — ^young men with a call,” he added, smilingly. “You are the sort we are looking for, judging from the brief conversation I have had with you.”

Rod could scarcely believe that this good fortune had come to him. He gazed keenly at the rancher to make sure that the other meant what he had said.

‘‘May I ask your name, sirU’

“Woods, Captain Jim Woods. You may inquire about me from any stockman and he will tell you that Captain Woodses word is as good as his bond any day in the week. ’ ^

“I can well believe that, sir. Where is your ranch U’

“At Shelby. It is known as the Silver Bow Ranch. You may have heard of it.’’

“Indeed I have,” answered Rogers, with glowing eyes. “I met a man once who used to work for you. He said ”

“Never mind what he said, young man. If uncomplimentary I don’t want to hear it; if complimentary it might embarrass me, ” laughed the rancher. “Let’s get down to business.”

“Very good, sir. I will do so by asking how much you will pay us!” questioned Rodney boldly.

“That’s the talk. Let me see.” The rancher measured the boys from head to foot in a long, critical gaze. “VJiat are your names!”

Rodney told him, introducing his companion.

“Do you think you are strong enough to stand up under a hard day’s work on the ranch, Rogers!”

“Yes, sir, I am. Perhaps, however, it might

24 THE KANGE AND GEANGE be well for you to try us before deciding what we are worth. You can tell better after that what you think you can pay us. ’ ’

suppose you wouldnT be willing to work for your board T’ demanded Captain Woods, with a twinkle, which the lads did not observe.

‘ ‘ No, sir, ” answered Eodney promptly. ‘ ^ We are either worth some sort of wages, or else we are not worth anything at all.^^

quite agree with you. How much do you want?’’

^‘What’ll you give?”

will give you twenty-five dollars a month and keep for the first month. After that we shall see. How does that strike you?”

‘H’ll take it, sir. Glen, what do you say?” asked Eodney, turning to his companion.

‘ ‘ Twenty-five dollars a month and board looks good to me for a starter,” nodded Stevens, provided the board is good.”

‘^You will find that part of it all right, boys. Of course you will get no fancy dishes on the range. ’ ’

‘‘We do not expect them. We are perfectly willing to eat what the rest of the men get along on,” spoke up young Eogers. “We accept your offer. When do you wish us to report for work?”

“When can you start?”

^‘Well, we have started already/^ laughed Rodney. fact I think we were on our way to your ranch when you spoke to us. ^ ’

‘‘Good; take the next train. You should get there about three o^clock in the afternoon. Put up at the little hotel just across the street from the station at Shelby. Tell the woman there that Captain Woods sent you and will be responsible for your lodgings until morning. Go out to the Home Ranch in the morning and ask for Tom Neville. He is my general foreman. Here, I will give you a line to him. ’ ’

Captain Woods hastily scribbled a note to his foreman, handing it to Rogers.

“Come over here and I will get your tickets.^’

The lads accompanied the rancher to the office, where he quickly purchased two tickets to Shelby.

“Will you be going down on this train asked Rodney, as he pocketed his ticket.

“No, I do not expect to be back for at least a couple of days. I am here to meet a man who is coming in on the Short Line up train. I wish you luck, lads. Have you sufficient money

“Oh, yes, sir, thank you; plenty for our needs. ’ ’

“Then good-bye and good luck. My train is coming in now.^^

Captain Woods gave each of the lads a quick, hearty hand clasp, then strode out to the platform, leaving the boys standing in the station looking at each other in a dazed sort of way.

‘^Well, I must say things are coming our way,’’ laughed Glen, looking down at the little piece of pasteboard in his hand. ‘‘They do things right out in this country, don’t they?”

“We are a pair of lucky boys, Glen,” answered Eodney. “We ought to be mighty thankful for our good luck.”

“We’ll decide that question after we have tried out the job,” answered Stevens. “Let’s go out and watch for the train.”

Chapter III Good Luck Deseets Them

I T was a pair of happy lads who boarded the down train at the Short Line station about thirty minutes after having taken leave of Captain Woods.

For the next hour and a half the lads conversed in low tones, talking over their good fortune, getting better acquainted with every moment spent in each other’s company. The motion of the train, however, coupled with the fact that the boys had been too excited to sleep very soundly the preceding night, soon caused them to nod, and presently they were asleep.

It seemed as if they had been sleeping but a few moments when young Rogers awoke with a start. Some one was shaking him by the shoulder.

‘‘Tickets!” said the conductor irritably. Rodney, blinking, rapidly began searching for his transportation. He finally found the ticket in his hat on the fioor of the car. By this time Stevens was awake, that is, he was gazing in a dazed sort of way at the conductor.

“Where’s your ticket, Glen?” questioned Rogers.

car. I should have known better than to try to ride in a window train as the tramps out in Iowa call the passenger trains. You can tell the folks I am on the way when you get to Shelby, Eod.’’

Eodney shook his head.

‘H’m not going through on this train, he said firmly.

‘^Not going

‘‘No ; lam going to stand by you. We promised to stick together when we made our bargain on the station platform back there at Butte. We are going to do so. This is a good time to begin, declared Eodney decisively.

“You will do nothing of the sort. You will go on to Shelby on your ticket. Idl manage to get there somehow, provided I can pick up a freight train whose crew is not too particular. You go right along. I will drop off at the next station where this train stops. I hope it doesnT stop for an hour or so, though.’’

“Your wish isn’t going to come true,” laughed Eogers. “The train is slowing down right now. W^e might as well take our bags and march.”

“I won’t have it,” protested Stevens. “I’ll thrash you if you try to get off.”

“I shall have to get off or be put off, for I will be in the same fix as yourself.”

‘‘You have a ticket. Ride on it. Don’t be foolish.”