“Wal, I’ve got plenty that you can do—I never yet heard that work was scarce in this country—an’ if you’ve a mind to set in with me, I’ll give you twenty dollars a month an’ find you.”
“Find me?” repeated Guy. “Am I going to get lost?”
“Eh? Lost! No. I mean I’ll give you twenty dollars a month an’ all the grub you want to eat an’ all the hosses you need to ride. I give Zeke thirty dollars, but you don’t know nothin’ about herdin’ cattle. You talk like a high larnt boy. Did you ever have any schoolin’?”
“Oh, yes,” said Guy. “I’ve been to school all my life—that is almost all my life. I’ve been a hunter five years, you know.”
“Then mebbe you’re jest the feller I want to tend store fur me. Did you ever do anything of the kind?”
It would not be safe to boast now, for there a was a chance of being found out, so Guy gave a truthful answer.
“No, I never did,” said he, “but I know I could learn.”
“Sartin you could. It’s easy larnt. Now I’ll tell you what I’ll do. If you’re a mind to work about the ranch on week days an’ tend store on Sundays, I’ll give you what I told you an’ let you have your pick of my hosses, an’ I’ve got some good ones, too. Only you must promise one thing—if you want to leave me you must give me a month’s notice, so that I can get somebody to fill your place. I make that bargain with all my hands.”
“All right,” said Guy, “I’ll do it.”
And so the matter was settled. Guy had found a way to get the horse he so much needed, and he was in ecstasies over it.