"I don’t suppose there will be much difficulty about that,—we are not busy now. But where do you think of going?" "I shall go for Maple Creek first. There I shall make inquiries, and have a good look round. If I can’t find anything there, I shall go on to Calgary, which is a busy city, where I think I am pretty sure to succeed." "Yes, I should think it about as good an arrangement as you could make." "I am only sorry, John, you are not going with me; I should have been glad for us to have continued together." "So am I, Charley. You can’t tell how I feel your going." "Well, it is not too late now, if you have a mind to make one with me. I should be very glad if you would, John." It was the first time he had appeared to evince any feeling at the prospect of parting, and it moved his brother deeply. But his reply was calmly and unhesitatingly given— "It’s no use, my boy; however much I might have liked to, it’s too late now!" "What do you mean by too late?" "I was on the point of letting you into a secret last night, when Ranger came, and then the ’rumpus’ with him upset all my little plan." "What was it?" inquired Charles, with some astonishment. "Why, nothing more nor less than that I am going to get married, as soon as I can properly fix up matters." "Never! Who are you going to marry?" "I am only waiting for Mary Truman’s answer, which she has promised in about another week." "Then it is not yet settled?" "No, not quite," he replied rather solemnly. "Well, you know ’there’s many a slip’——" "Yes, I am aware of all that, but I don’t anticipate one here." "But if she does—shall you stay on?" "No, not I!" "In that case you could then come on and join me, so I’ll take care to let you have my address. But there, John, I hope you’ll be more successful than I have been." "You don’t mean to say that you have already proposed and been refused by Mary?" asked John anxiously. "No, no! not by her, but Jessie Russell." "Oh, she’s going to have Fellows! Didn’t you know that?" "I did not know it, but I thought so," he replied, as a fierce light gleamed in his eyes. "You’ve kept your little affair very quiet," was John’s sly rejoinder. "It’s not a pleasant experience to talk about," he added. "It makes, however, another reason why I am not sorry at having to leave the place." "I’m sorry for you, Charley, my boy; but I think she’ll get a good husband in Fellows." "I’m not so sure about that. My advice to you is, be careful about him." "Why! what do you mean?" "He’s a man I should trust only as far as I could see him." "Know anything against him?" "Don’t ask me any more questions." The subject was dropped, and Charles went on with his packing, whilst John went over to the Ranch to acquaint the farmer with his intention of driving Charles to town.