The four men summoned went immediately to the big house. Beck lagged a trifle and it was certain from his manner that his curiosity was not greatly excited. He appeared to be amused, for his black eyes twinkled gaily, but as they passed through the gate they set their gaze on the back of Hepburn's broad neck and a curious speculation showed in them. Jane Hunter was waiting on the veranda which ran the length of the ranch house and without formalities began her explanation. "You all know the situation, I believe. My uncle left me this ranch and I have come from New York to take possession. How long I remain depends on a number of things, but I find that for the present at least, I must conduct my own business. For the last four weeks, since the property came to me, it has been in the hands of Mr. Alward, the attorney in town. I arrived yesterday expecting to have his help, but his doctor has sent him into a lower altitude because of some heart difficulty and I'm alone on the job with nothing to guide me but a lengthy letter he wrote. "I know little about business of any sort, I know nothing at all about ranching, so I have a great deal to learn. I do know that the first thing I need is an actual head for this place and that is why I called you here: to select a ... a foreman, you call him? "Mr. Alward left word that any one of you four men would be competent and I'm going to choose one of you by chance: Understand, this is no guarantee to keep whoever is chosen on the job for any length of time, but I don't care to take the responsibility of handling the men myself, as my uncle and as Mr. Alward have done. Some one must do this and until I learn enough to know what I want I will be dependent upon whomever is selected." She had spoken rapidly, at no loss for words, without a trace of hesitation or embarrassment, looking intently from face to face, studying the men as she explained her plan, but as she paused her eyes were on Beck's eyes and their gaze was arrested there a moment as though it had encountered something not usual. "I am going to need all your help and all the suggestions that you can give me,"--with a slight gesture to include the four, though she still looked straight at the tall Westerner,--"but I feel that at first there must be system of some sort, a man at the head of the organization. I'm going to let you draw straws for the place." The men stirred and looked at one another. "That's fair enough," said Dad, with just a trace of indecision in his voice. "For us," commented Curtis, a lean, leathery man. Jane stooped and picked up an oat straw. She broke off four pieces and placed them tightly between her thumb and palm. "Now, draw!" she directed, with a smile, holding them toward Curtis. "The lucky straw will be the shortest."