The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-07-14
-=~S-~-,1o-
CHAPTER IV.-(Continued.)
CoPyRIoHr 1908
THE BoBBs- s-MKRRILL COMPANY

1uey spent the udy III lne SaQule TlulnR |
over the range The ridiculous charac-
ter of the Poindexter undertaking could |
not spoil the real value Of the land |
There was, Saxton could see, the making
here of great farming property; he felt |
his old interest in outdoor life quickening
as he rode back to the house in the even
Ing.
Snyder cooked supper for both Of them,
while SaxtOn repaired decrepit wind
mill which had been designed to supply
the house with water. He had formed q
poor opinion of the caretaker, who had
no well-defned duties. There was moth
Ing for any one to d, unless the range
were again stocked and cattle raising un-
dertaken as a serious business. Saxton
was used to rough men and their ways.
He had happy faculty of adapting him
self to the conversational capacities OF
illiterate men, and enjoyed drawing them
out and getting their point of view; bu
Snyders was not vsage that inspired
confidence. He had great shock OF
black hair and a scraggy beard. He lack
ed an eye, and he had habit of drawing
his head around in order to accommodate
his remaining orb to any necessity. He
did this with an insinuating kind of de-
liberation that became tiresome in a Ions
interview.
This place is too fancy to be of much
use,' the man vouchsafed. "You NAV
hnd some dude that wants to plant money
where another dude has dug the first
hole; but | reckon you'll have a hard
time catching him. A real cattleman
wouldn't care for all this house. 1t might
be made into stable, but horse would
look ridiculous in here. You might have
corn crib made out of 1t; or it would
do for hotel IL you could get dudes to
spend the summer here; but 1 reckon
it's little hot out here for summer
boarders"
The only real value Is in the land"
said Saxton. I'm told there's no better
on the river. The house Is handicap.
or would be so regarded by the kind OF
men who make money out Of cattle. Have
you ever tried rounding up the cattle
that strayed through the fences? The
Poindexter crowd must have branded
their last calves about two years ago
Assuming that only part of them was
sold or run off, there ought to be some
two-year-olds still loose In this country
and they'd be worth finding"
Yer jokin' I guess. These felIers
around here are good fellers, and all that,
but guess they don't give anything back.
guess we amt got any cattle coming
to u.s."
"Who've you been reporting to, Sny-
derY'
"Hows that?"
"Who have you been considering your.
self responsible TOT"
"Well, Jim Wheaton at the Clarksou
National hired me, and l reckon I'd re.
port to him if l reported to anybody.
But If you're going to run this shebang
and want to be reported to, guess can
report to you"
II want you to report to me-" said
John, quietly. in the first place l want
the house and the other buildings cleaned
out. After than the fences must be put
In shape. And then we'll see il we can't
find some of our cows. You can't tell
60 into business"
well, If you're the boss I'll do II
your way. l got along all right with
Wheaton"
Saxton determined to leave for Clark
son the following morning, and formulat
ed in his mind the result of his journey
and plans for the future of the incon
gruous combination of properties that hat
been entrusted to him. He sat for ar
hour looking out over the moon-lit val
ley. He followed the long sweep of tn,
plain, through which he could see fol
miles the bright ribbon of the river. A
train of cars rumbled far away, on tn,
iron trail between the two oceans, inten
styling the loneliness of the strang
house.
Il seem to find only the lonely places,
he said aloud
In the morning he ate the breakfas
of coffee, hardtack and bacon which Sny
der prepared. Snyder rode with him t.
the railway station.
Give my regards to Mr.. Wheaton," h
said. as Saxton swung himself into tn
train. you'll find me here at the oil
stand when you come back"
"a queer customer and undoubtedly
bad lott was Saxton's reflection.
When Saxton had written out the re
port of his trip he took it to Wheaton, I
get his suggestions before forwarding
to Boston. lie looked upon the cashier a
his predecessor, and wished to avail hin
self of Wheaton's knowledge Of the locs
conditions affecting the several proper
ties that had now passed to his car,
Wheaton undoubtedly wished to be of al
sistance. and in their discussion OF tn
report. the cashier made many suggei
tions of value, of which Saxton was gla
to avail himself.
"As to the Poindexter place." sal
Saxton finally, ''I've been advertising
for sale in the hope of finding a buye
but without results. The people at heat
quarters can't bother about the detail
of these things, but l can't see why "
should maintain a caretaker. There
nothing to take care of. That house
worse than useless. I'm going back In
few days to see IL / can't coax hon
some of the cattle we're entitled to, ar
then suppose we may as well dispeni
with Snyder"
II don't see that there's anything ell
to do" Wheaton answered. 'Pve bee
to the ranch. and there's little person
property there forth caring for. ThI