“Thought I’d ride with you a spell, Lin. That Pete-horse acts like he was goin’ sore on the off front foot. Chuck at the Y.D. to-night?”

“That’s what Transley says, George, and he knows.”

“Ever et at the Y.D?”

“Nope.”

“Know old Y.D?”

“Only to know his name is good on a cheque, and they say he still throws a good rope.”

George wriggled to a more comfortable position in the hay. He had a feeling that he was approaching a delicate subject with consummate skill. After a considerable silence he continued—

“They say that’s quite a girl old Y.D.‘s got.”

“Oh,” said Linder, slowly. The occasion of the soreness in that Pete-horse’s off front foot was becoming apparent.

“You better stick to Pete,” Linder continued. “Women is most uncertain critters.”