"Now listen, Dad! It's not a joke. I'm in deadly earnest. I haven't got a particle of religion in me but I'm interested in that line of talk to see if I can discover what other folks get out of it. Peter Knight is not a fool. He knows the world and he says Lost Chief needs a church. All right, it's going to have one."
"Peter Knight is some advocate, all right!" growled John. "He's always saying he had a religious up-bringing, and look at him! Fourth-class postmaster in a cow valley!"
"I don't suppose his religious up-bringing had a thing to do with that," said Douglas.
"Then what's the good of a religion?" John's voice was triumphant. Douglas said nothing and his father went on. "You'll be the laughing-stock of the Valley. You can let on you won't care, but I know you will."
"Yes, I'll care," admitted Douglas. "But that can't be helped. It seems to be a part of the game."
"Well, he can't come to this house!" roared John. "I wouldn't have one of that breed on the place. Mind you keep him off this ranch, Doug."
"I expected you to say that." Douglas' jaw was set. "That's why I plan to build him a cabin up on my section. Grandfather's old cabin isn't worth fixing up."
He did not look at Judith as he spoke. Had he done so he would have been puzzled by the wistfulness in her eyes.
"I sure wonder, Doug," said John irritably, "where you get your crazy notions!"
"He's exactly like his grandfather Douglas!" exclaimed Mary.