That was all for the prying eyes that compassed them. They entered the house and Minnie Pine served the meal which had been waiting and which was the best Sky Line could produce, and afterward Lawrence Arnold reclined on a blanket-covered couch in the living-room and smoked in smiling peace. Kate Cathrew sat near, her eyes devouring his slim form, and talked swiftly of many vital matters. “Do you need any new men?” he asked her, “I have two who would be good. One is out on bail—mine—the other was acquitted, as usual. Both will crawl.” “No,” said Kate, “and I want to give you back one I have—Provine. He is insubordinate. Deal with him hard.” Arnold nodded. “Was the last shipment O.K.?” asked Kate. “Have I done well, my master?” She smiled jestingly, but the title was true in every sense of the word. “Exceedingly,” he answered, “the shipment was prime and we cleaned up on it. In my grips there are several little trinkets for you, bought with some of the surplus. I commend you.” He reached for her hand and the woman flushed with pleasure. “This new shipment,” she said, “can you trust your agent to float it?” “Absolutely, or I wouldn’t be here.” “It goes out in a few days—as soon as the hue-and-cry dies down a bit. There is plenty of feed in Rainbow’s Pot to hold the herd several weeks, if need be, but I like to get clear as quick as possible.” “Good work. You’re a clever girl, Kate. We’re making money fast. One thing more—have you succeeded in getting hold of the big feeding flats on the river?” Kate frowned. “No—the damned poor trash hang on like grim death. I’ve done everything but kill them, and they’re still there.” “That’s too bad,” said the man, “I guess maybe you need a little help. What have you done?” “Everything. Used all the arts of intimidation I know—and destroyed their livelihood.” “H’m,” said Arnold, “must be a pretty courageous outfit. Who are they?” “Old Missouri mother—boy—and a big slab-sided girl who’s the whole backbone of the family. Impudent baggage. You remember when the old man—ah—fell down Rainbow a couple of years ago?” Arnold nodded again. “Well, they’re trash—_trash_,” said Kate, “and stick to the flats like burrs. The girl’s religious. Talked some drivel about the hand of God being before her face, and came out flat-footed and said—before a crowd at the store, too—that those flats would feed a lot of cattle through, and that maybe I had a—hope—concerning them.” “The devil she did!” said Arnold, sitting up. “I rather think you do need another head to handle this.” “And that isn’t all,” said the woman. “Sheriff Selwood is knocked out at present, but he watched the boys drive this last bunch into the Pot. He rode to the very Flange itself. We’ve got to get these cattle down the Pipe and out before he comes round—though from what we can hear, it don’t seem likely he’ll come round. Sud shot him in the head. I think he’ll die myself, or I’d have driven out by now.”