and “jumpers,” whose incursions their boldness alone had repulsed.  The effect of this romantic situation upon the two women, with the slight fascination of danger imported into their quiet lives, may well be imagined.  Possibly owing to some incautious questioning by Mr. Hopkins, and some doubts of the discipline and sincerity of his posse, Jim discharged them the next day; but during the erection of his cabin by some peaceful carpenters from the settlement, he returned to his gloomy preoccupation and the ostentatious wearing of his revolvers.  As an opulent and powerful neighbor, he took his meals with the family while his house was being built, and generally impressed them with a sense of security they had never missed.

Meantime, Clarence, duly informed of the installation of Jim as his tenant, underwent a severe trial.  It was necessary for his plans that this should be kept a secret at present, and this was no easy thing for his habitually frank and open nature.  He had once mentioned that he had met Jim at the settlement, but the information was received with such indifference by Susy, and such marked disfavor by Mrs. Peyton, that he said no more.  He accompanied Peyton in his rides around the rancho, fully possessed himself of the details of its boundaries, the debatable lands held by the enemy, and listened with beating pulses, but a hushed tongue, to his host’s ill-concealed misgivings.

“You see, Clarence, that lower terrace?” he said, pointing to a far-reaching longitudinal plain beyond the corral; “it extends from my corral to Fair Plains.  That is claimed by the sisters’ title, and, as things appear to be going, if a division of the land is made it will be theirs.  It’s bad enough to have this best grazing land lying just on the flanks of the corral held by these rascals at an absurd prohibitory price, but I am afraid that it may be made to mean something even worse.  According to the old surveys, these terraces on different levels were the natural divisions of the property,—­one heir or his tenant taking one, and another taking another,—­an easy distinction that saved the necessity of boundary fencing or monuments, and gave no trouble to people who were either kinsmen or lived in lazy patriarchal concord.  That is the form of division they are trying to reestablish now.  Well,” he continued, suddenly lifting his eyes to the young man’s flushed face, in some unconscious, sympathetic response to his earnest breathlessness, “although my boundary line extends half a mile into that field, my house and garden and corral are actually upon that terrace or level.”  They certainly appeared to Clarence to be on the same line as the long field beyond.  “If,” went on Peyton, “such a decision is made, these men will push on and claim the house and everything on the terrace.”

“But,” said Clarence quickly, “you said their title was only valuable where they have got or can give possession.  You already have yours.  They can’t take it from you except by force.”