"I don't suppose there will be much difficulty about that,—we are not busy now. But where do you think of going?"
"I shall go for Maple Creek first. There I shall make inquiries, and have a good look round. If I can't find anything there, I shall go on to Calgary, which is a busy city, where I think I am pretty sure to succeed."
"Yes, I should think it about as good an arrangement as you could make."
"I am only sorry, John, you are not going with me; I should have been glad for us to have continued together."
"So am I, Charley. You can't tell how I feel your going."
"Well, it is not too late now, if you have a mind to make one with me. I should be very glad if you would, John."
It was the first time he had appeared to evince any feeling at the prospect of parting, and it moved his brother deeply. But his reply was calmly and unhesitatingly given—
"It's no use, my boy; however much I might have liked to, it's too late now!"
"What do you mean by too late?"
"I was on the point of letting you into a secret last night, when Ranger came, and then the 'rumpus' with him upset all my little plan."