The two boys straightened. Mr. Zept was one of the richest and most active citizens of Calgary. He was even ranked as a millionaire, having made his money with the other big horse ranchmen in that part of the world. He was a close friend of Norman’s father and had been especially active in organizing the Stampede.
“Oh, of course!” exclaimed Norman. “Everyone knows Mr. Zept. He’s the big man in this show. I’m glad to know you. I am Norman Grant and my friend here is Roy Moulton.”
“Oh, you’re the fellows who are going to give the airship show,” responded the young man with a marked interest. “I am glad to meet you. I’m Paul Zept. I’m just through school—in Paris. I’ve been living with my grandfather. Now I’m going to live here. My father wants me to go on one of his ranches. I like horses but I don’t think I like ranches.”
“Your father has some fine ones,” suggested Roy.
“Yes, I know,” answered the young man, “but I want to get out on the frontier. I thought this was the frontier.” He smiled as he turned to wave his hand toward the skyscrapers and factory chimneys and suburban homes near by on the hills. “But this doesn’t look much like it. I want to get out in the wilds—and that’s where I’m going.”
“Do you know what that means?” asked Norman with a smile in turn. “Do you know about the spoiled pork and bannock and mosquitoes?”
“I suppose you mean the rough part,” answered the young man. “I’ve never had much of that but I want to try it. I want to get beyond civilization. I want to get where I can see things I can’t read about. I’m tired of Paris and school and I want to see the real wilderness.”
“It’s gone!” interrupted Roy again with a laugh.
“All gone?” asked the young man with a peculiar look.
“Nearly all,” exclaimed Norman; “unless you go a great ways from here. Unless,” he continued, his smile broadening into a grin, “you can arrange to go home with Moosetooth here or La Biche.”