Produced by Andrew Sly, Al Haines and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net THE LAST STRAW BY HAROLD TITUS Author of "Bruce of the Circle A," "I--Conquered," etc. ILLUSTRATED BY GEORGE W. GAGE BOSTON SMALL, MAYNARD & COMPANY PUBLISHERS Copyright, 1920, BY SMALL, MAYNARD & COMPANY (INCORPORATED) _Second Printing, June, 1920._ PRESS OF GEO. H. ELLIS CO., BOSTON, MASS. CONTENTS CHAPTER I THE NEW BOSS II MY ADVICE, MA'AM III THE NESTER--AND ANOTHER IV THE CHAMPION V THE COURTING VI OUTCASTS VII THE CATAMOUNT VIII AND NOW, THE CLERGY IX THE DESTROYER X A MATTER OF DIRECTION XI HEPBURN'S PLAY XII A NEIGHBORLY CALL XIII THE FRAME-UP XIV THE BIG CHANCE XV WAR! XVI THE WARNING XVII HIS FAITHFUL LITTLE PONY XVIII AN INTERRUPTED PROPOSAL XIX CONCERNING SAM MCKEE XX "WORK AMONG THE HEATHEN" XXI RENUNCIATION XXII THE REVEREND'S STRATEGY XXIII BECK'S DEPARTURE XXIV IN THE SHADOW XXV A MOUNTAIN PORTIA XXVI BATTLE! XXVII THE LAST STRAW THE LAST STRAW CHAPTER I THE NEW BOSS The last patches of snow, even in the most secluded gulches, had been licked up by the mounting sun; the waters of Coyote Creek had returned to the confines of the stream bed; in places a suggestion of green was making its appearance about the bases of grass clumps, and cottonwood buds were swelling. Four men sat on the bench before the bunkhouse of the H.C. ranch; one was braiding a belt, another whittling and two more, hats over their eyes to shield them from the brilliant light, joined in the desultory conversation from time to time. In the pauses, such as the one now prevailing, was something besides the spirit of idling. Dad Hepburn, gray of hair, eye and mustache, but with the body of a young man, who sat nearest the doorway, glanced frequently towards the road as though expecting to see another come that way to bring fresh interest; Two-Bits Beal was uneasy and did not remain long in one pose, as men do who sit in the first real warmth of spring for its own sake; Jimmy Oliver, the whittler, stopped now and then and held his head at an angle, as if listening; and although he worked industriously at the belt it was evident that Tom Beck had thought for other affairs. "So she was his nephew an' only heir," commented Two-Bits, gravely. Hepburn stirred and snorted softly. Jimmy Oliver looked at the homely, freckle-blotched face of the gaunt speaker and grinned. After a moment Tom Beck said: