"We lay this floor for that reason. No matter what they are able to do, they can’t get into the coop. I’ll wager that you will find tunnels running under it before long. Don’t fail to close this building before nightfall, and your flock will be safe." "Amen," said Murphy. "They’re cunnin’ divvils, coyotes are!" "I don’t know how to thank you," said Jane, impulsively putting her hands on the arms of her companions. "Think what it will mean to Jerry--a dozen fresh eggs a day!" Murphy chuckled. "Four a day will be doin’ good, an’ not that many for awhile. I’ll get ye some grit, an’ make a batch av whitewash." "Hey!" called a voice. "Everything’s getting cold!" "There’s Jerry, playing domestic tyrant," laughed Jane. "Isn’t it remarkable what a difference it makes to the cook? He thinks nothing of making me wait. Come on--you can tell me all about chicken raising after supper." She cast a furtive glance at Tex, and past him at the twilight-softened range beyond, where Tommy Watkins somewhere rode to save his ranch and outfit. *CHAPTER V* *A TRIMMER TRIMMED* About ten o’clock that night Murphy and Tex neared the station and stopped short at the former’s sudden ejaculation. "Th’ switch is open," he said. "Not that anythin’ serious might happen, unless th’ engineer went blind; but either av them would have plenty to say about it. Trust ’em for that. An’ tomorrow is Overton’s trick east-bound. He’s worse than Casey. Wait here a bit," and the section-boss went over, threw the switch, and returned. Soon they stopped again at the station to say good night to each other. Murphy seemed a little constrained and worried and soon gave the reason for it. "Tex," he said in a low voice, "yer takin’ sides with th’ weakest party, an’ yer takin’ ’em fast an’ open. Right now yer bein’ weighed an’ discussed, an’ to no profit to yerself. I can see that yer a man that will go his own way--but if th’ hotel gets unpleasant an’ tirin’, yer more than welcome in my shanty. ’Tis only an old box car off its wheels, but there’s a bunk in it for ye any time ye want to use it. Tread easy now, an’ keep yer two eyes open; an’ while I’m willin’ to back ye up, I daren’t do it unless it’s a matter av life an’ death. I’m Irish, an’ so is Costigan. There’s a strong feelin’ out here ag’in’ us--an’ when a mob starts not even wimmin an’ childer are safe. Costigan has both, an’ there’s th’ lass, as well. I’ve urged Mike to send his family back along th’ line somewhere, but his wife says _no_. She’s foolish, no doubt, but I say, God bless such wimmin."