“Tell me,” he urged, “what sort of a quiet home life do you pine for most? Does your preference run to a cottage in town or stray off towards a dwelling in the country?” “The country,” she returned. “Somewhere on a farm where I could watch things grow.” “That’s my choice too,” he confessed. “Whatever business I settle on will have to be at the source of things. Like you said, I want to watch things grow--calves or crops, it don’t much matter which. I’ll start casting about for a farm right off.” After leaving her he mingled with the swarming crowds on the main street. The conversational boom was in full swing and he heard it discussed on all sides. There were but few who dissented from the general prediction that an era of great prosperity lay ahead for Caldwell. Carver put in three active hours, then sought out Nate Younger to draw his back wages for the spring work, a sum totalling a trifle less than two hundred dollars. He found Younger in his room at the hotel in conference with Joe Hinman. The two old cowmen had pooled resources and formed the Plains Land and Cattle Company, Younger having purchased grasslands adjoining Hinman’s holdings. They planned to make the new concern a beef ranch straight through instead of a breeding ranch as now operated by Hinman. “We’ll be the biggest outfit in this end of the State,” Hinman was predicting, as Carver thrust his head through the door. “Come in, son, and set on the bed. The Plains Land and Cattle Company is going to be the biggest of the lot.” “I’m counting some on organizing a similar concern myself,” said Carver. “Maybe a trifle smaller than yours just at first; and in order to make the start I’ve got to borrow somewhat. I’m owning a nine-hundred-dollar equity in that bunch of calves we made the deal for last spring. How about your lending me eight hundred against it?” “But that would leave you owing me thirteen hundred on the bunch,” Hinman objected. “And right now those calves wouldn’t fetch that price on the market.” “Set the date for maturity of the loan far enough ahead so they’ll grow into it,” Carver suggested. “Before it comes due they’ll have advanced way beyond that figure. Then if I don’t pay up you can close me out at a profit.” “Now ain’t that a fact!” Hinman exclaimed admiringly. “There was a time, Buddy, when I marvelled at your ability to shed a season’s wages overnight. It does look now as if you might also learn me a few tricks on the reverse side of things. You’ve got a business mind.” He produced a check book and a stub of pencil. “How long do you want this loan to run?” Carver asked. “According to your own figures the longer it runs the more I stand to make,” said Hinman. “So I don’t know as it makes much difference. It does appear as if you’d let me in on a pretty good thing--so set the date yourself.” “One year from to-day,” Carver decided. “What do you aim to do with all this money?” Hinman inquired. “Setting out to break the bank in the Gilded Eagle?”