“Yes.”
“Well, ra-ther. Dad, did I ever tell you about——”
“I’m quite sure you never missed a single detail,” answered Mr. Beaumont, smilingly. “Go on, Bob.”
“Well, a short time ago I got a letter from our old friend Tim Lovell, whose father owns a sheep ranch not so many miles from Circle T. Tim says Border City has experienced a big boom—lots of building operations are under way, and a gas works is already completed.”
Mr. Beaumont’s business instincts were immediately aroused.
“What has brought this change about, Bob?” he asked, alertly.
“Well, for one thing, the railroad was recently extended to the town, so that many of the cattle-ranchers who formerly drove their stock to Creelton now ship from Border City. The aviators had something to do with it, too.”
“How, I’d like to know?” asked Cranny.
“Oh, in a lot of ways,” answered Bob. “You see, a wealthy New York man interested in dirigible balloons and aeroplanes financed their experiments at Lone Pine Ranch. Then, when the Aero Club of Wyoming decided to hold a meet and give big prizes for the speediest machine built in the state, he came West.”
“So as to find some soft place for them to fall on, I s’pose,” mumbled Willie.