“Well, boys,” said the Dean, as if to dismiss the subject, “I’ve been in this cow business a good many years, now, an’ I’ve seen all kinds of men come an’ go, but I ain’t never seen the man yet that could get ahead very far without payin’ for what he got.  Some time, one way or another, whether he’s so minded or not, a man’s just naturally got to pay.”

“That law is not peculiar to the cattle business, either, is it, Mr. Baldwin?” The words came from Patches, and as they saw his face, it was their turn to wonder.

The Dean looked straight into the dark eyes that were so filled with painful memories, and wistful desire.  “Sir?”

“I mean,” said Patches, embarrassed, as though he had spoken involuntarily, “that what you say applies to those who live idly—­doing no useful work whatever—­as well as to those who are dishonest in business of any kind, or who deliberately steal outright.  Don’t you think so?”

The Dean—­his eyes still fixed on the face of the new man—­answered slowly, “I reckon that’s so, Patches.  When you come to think about it, it must be so.  One way or another every man that takes what he ain’t earned has to pay for it.”

“Who is he?” asked the visitors of Curly and Bob, as they went for their horses, when the meal was over.

The Cross-Triangle men shook their heads.

“Just blew in one day, and the Dean hired him,” said Bob.

“But he’s the handiest man with his fists that’s ever been in this neck of the woods.  If you don’t believe it, just you start something,” added Curly with enthusiasm.

“Found it out, did you?” laughed Bert.

“In something less than a minute,” admitted Curly.

“Funny name!” mused “Shorty.”

Bob grinned.  “That’s what Curly thought—­at first.”

“And then he took another think, huh?”

“Yep,” agreed Curly, “he sure carries the proper credentials to make any name that he wants to wear good enough for me.”

The visitors mounted their horses, and sat looking appraisingly at the tall figure of Honorable Patches, as that gentleman passed them at a little distance, on his way to the barn.

“Mebby you’re right,” admitted “Shorty,” “but he sure talks like a schoolmarm, don’t he?”

“He sure ain’t no puncher,” commented Bert.

“No, but I’m gamblin’ that he’s goin’ to be,” retorted Curly, ignoring the reference to Patches’ culture.

“Me, too,” agreed Bob.

“Well, we’ll all try him out this fall rodeo”; and “better not let him drift far from the home ranch for a while,” laughed the visitors.  “So long!” and they were away.

Before breakfast the next morning Phil said to Patches, “Catch up Snip, and give him a feed of grain.  You’ll ride with me to-day.”

At Patches’ look of surprise he explained laughingly, “I’m going to give my school a little vacation, and Uncle Will thinks it’s time you were out of the kindergarten.”