"Oh, I suppose so. But there is a lot of work to do in Lorry's district,
I noticed, coming down. The trails are in very bad condition."
"I know it. But he's worth more to the Service doin' bigger work. I got a young college man wished onto me that can mend trails."
"Will he live at Lorry's cabin?"
"No. He'll head in from here. I ain't givin' the use of my cabin and my piano to everybody."
Dorothy's eyes twinkled. "If Lorry were away some one might steal your piano."
"Now, see here, missy; you're joshin' your Uncle Bud. Do you know that you're tryin' to bribe a Gov'ment officer? That means a pow'ful big penalty if I was to repo't to Washington."
Dorothy wrinkled her nose. "I don't care if you do! You'd get what-for, too."
"Well, I'll tell you, missy. Let's ask Bondsman about this here hocus.
Are you willin' to stand by what he says?"
"Oh, that's not fair! He's your dog."
"But he's plumb square in his jedgments, missy. Now, I'll tell you. We'll call him in and say nothin'. Then you ask him if he thinks I ought to put Lorry Adams over west or leave him to my camp this summer. Now, if Bondsman wiggles that stub tail of his, it means, 'yes.' If he don't wiggle his tail, he says, 'no,'—huh?"