"Well, I guess your own freshness will make up for it," said Snyder.
Wheaton did not smile; he was very cool and master of the situation.
"I came to see what you want, and it had better not be much."
"Oh, you cheer up, Jim," said Snyder with his ugly grin. "I don't know that you've ever done so much for me. I don't want you to forget that I did time for you once."
"You'd better not rely on that too much. I was a poor little kid and all the mischief I ever knew I learned from you. What is it you want now?"
"Well, Jim, you've seen fit to get me fired from that nice lonesome job you got me, back in the country."
"I had nothing to do with it. The ranch owners sent a man here to represent them and I had nothing more to do with it. The fact is I stretched a point to put you in there. Mr. Saxton has taken the whole matter of the ranch out of my hands."
"Well, I don't know anything about that," said Snyder contemptuously. "But that don't make any difference. I'm out, and I don't know but I'm glad to be out. That was a fool job; about the lonesomest thing I ever struck. Your friend Saxton didn't seem to take a shine to me; wanted me to go chasing cattle all over the whole Northwest—"
"He flattered you," said Wheaton, a faint smile drawing at the corners of his mouth.