It had been a busy day for Hollis. His hand had been shaken so much that it pained him. The day had been a rather warm one for the season and so when late in the afternoon Norton rode into town, "To see the excitement," he told Hollis, the latter determined to make the return trip to the Circle Bar in the evening. Therefore, after a short conference with Judge Graney and Allen--and a frugal, though wholesome supper in the Judge's rooms back of the court house--which Allen cooked--he and Norton rode out upon the Coyote trail and jogged quietly toward the Circle Bar. There was a good moon; the air was invigorating, though slightly chill, and the trail lay clear and distinct before them, hard after the rain, ideal for riding. Many times during the first half hour of the ride Norton looked furtively at his chief. Certain things that Mrs. Norton had told him held a prominent place in his thoughts, and mingling with these thoughts was the recollection of a conversation that he had held with Hollis one day when both of them had been riding this same trail and Hollis had stopped off at the Hazelton cabin. Many times Norton smiled. He would have liked to refer to that conversation, but hesitated for fear of seeming to meddle with that which did not concern him. He remembered the days of his own courtship--how jealously he had guarded his secret. But the longer his thoughts dwelt upon the incident that had been related to him by Mrs. Norton the harder it became to keep silent. But he managed to repress his feelings for the first half hour and then, moved by an internal mirth that simply would not be held in check longer, he cackled aloud. He saw Hollis shoot a quick glance at him. He cackled again, his mirth swelling as he caught the surprised and puzzled expression of Hollis's face. "I have a very original opinion of people who laugh without any visible cause," remarked the latter, grinning reluctantly in the semi-darkness. Norton's reply was another cackle. They rode in silence for a long time. Then Norton spoke. "This is a great country," he said. Silence from Hollis, though taking a quick glance at him Norton again observed the puzzled grin on his face. "And original," he remarked, placing upon the latter word the same peculiar emphasis that Hollis had given it a moment before. Hollis grinned widely; he began to detect a subtle meaning in the range boss's speech and actions. But he did not answer; it would not strain his patience to await until such a time as Norton made his meaning clear. "But there's some things that ain't original," continued Norton in the same tone, after another short silence. This remark clearly required comment. Hollis grinned mildly. "Meaning what?" he questioned.