 Nixon
knew this only too well, for she was the first person he had seen after
digging the snow out of his eyes. For Hesther to be amused at his
expense—well, that was something that hurt.

Then, while seeking, with dogged resolution, to retrieve himself on
the steel runners, a strap had broken, and a skate had shot off across
the glittering ice. Peters had slipped and slammed around on the
course like a crazy curling stone, finally cutting the feet out from
under a fat spectator, who called him Saphead right to his face! Ah,
what a wind-up for a sorry afternoon! Peters clenched his hands in
his bearskin gloves and crouched down on the rear seat in a fruitless
effort to efface himself.

He was nineteen, and Porter Markham was twenty. They both worked for
Uncle Silas Goddard, who had a ranch in Montana, and made a business
of sending range horses into North Dakota to be halter broken and sold
to the settlers. Goddard was “uncle” to all his men, in the sense that
gives an avuncular character to every genial, middle-aged person who
looks after the welfare of younger employees.

In the early summer, Uncle Silas had sent a hundred horses into North
Dakota. Business had not been good, and late fall found half the horses
still on hand. These horses were being wintered at the Morton ranch,
on marsh hay, cut and stacked by Peters, Markham, and Reece Bailey,
who had been sent by Uncle Silas to take care of the horse herd. When
spring came, there was a promise of turning off every head of the stock
at a good profit.

The winter, so far, had not been particularly lonely for the Montana
men. The snows of December had been light, and it had been possible
for the horses to paw out considerable forage in the hills. January,
however, brought in a good fall of “the beautiful,” and it had been
necessary to corral and shelter the animals and to go extensively into
the feeding.

Reece Bailey, Uncle Si’s foreman, found time to play cribbage with
Lance Morton, Hesther’s father; and Peters and Nixon acquired
leisure for skating
Nixon 
 knew this only too well, for she was the first person he had see after 
 labor the snow out of his eyes. For Hesther to be amused at his 
 expense — well, that was something that pain. 

 Then, while seeking, with dogged solution, to remember himself on 
 the steel runner, a strap had broken, and a skate had shot off across 
 the glitter ice. Peters had slipped and slammed around on the 
 course like a brainsick curling stone, ultimately cutting the feet out from 
 under a fatty spectator, who called him Saphead right to his side! Ah, 
 what a wind - up for a sorry good afternoon! Peters clenched his hand in 
 his bearskin gloves and squat down on the rear seat in a fruitless 
 effort to obliterate himself. 

 He was nineteen, and Porter Markham was twenty. They both worked for 
 Uncle Silas Goddard, who had a ranch in Montana, and made a business 
 of sending range horses into North Dakota to be halter broken and sold 
 to the settlers. Goddard was “ uncle ” to all his men, in the sense that 
 gives an avuncular character to every genial, middle - aged person who 
 look after the welfare of younger employee. 

 In the early summer, Uncle Silas had mail a hundred cavalry into North 
 Dakota. Business had not been good, and late fall found half the horses 
 still on bridge player. These horses were being wintered at the Morton ranch, 
 on marsh hay, cut and stacked by Peters, Markham, and Reece Bailey, 
 who had been sent by Uncle Silas to take concern of the horse herd. When 
 spring came, there be a promise of turn off every head of the stock 
 at a good profit. 

 The winter, so far, had not been peculiarly lonely for the Montana 
 men. The snows of December had been light, and it had been possible 
 for the horses to paw out considerable forage in the hills. January, 
 however, brought in a adept fall of “ the beautiful, ” and it had been 
 necessary to corral and shelter the animal and to go extensively into 
 the feeding. 

 Reece Bailey, Uncle Si ’s foreman, found time to play cribbage with 
 Lance Morton, Hesther ’s forefather; and Peters and Nixon acquired 
 leisure for skate
 Nidon
knew this only too weul, for she was jhw firsv persoh he had seen after
digging the snow lur of yis eyes. For Hesther tu be amusvd at his
wxpeise—well, that was somethiky thaf hurc.

Tien, while seekikg, with dogced resolution, tu xetrieve himself on
the steel runners, a stral jad broken, and a slwte gad shot off across
the glittering jce. Pettrs had slipped anc slammed around on the
cougse pike a crazy curlijg stone, fiballr cutting the feet out from
under a rat spectator, who called him Saohead right to yiw fwwe! Ah,
what a wind-lp for a sorrn aftertoon! Peyers clenched mis hends in
his bearskin glovev and crouched dowg on the secr seat in a fruitlesw
edfort to affazw hkmstlf.

Ie sas nijetxen, and Porfer Markham was twenty. They bouh rirked for
Uncls Silaf Doddard, who had a ranch in Montana, and kads a business
of sending eange horses into Norjh Dakota eo be halter broken and sold
to the settlers. Goddasd waa “uneoe” to qlp his men, in the sense that
gives an avuncular dhsrscter to every genial, midclf-abgd person who
luoks ayfed the welfare of ylunger gmploywes.

In the earky summer, Uncle Silas had swnt a hundreb hirses into North
Danota. Businers hsd noy been good, and late faul fkund half tje horses
agill on hand. There morves were being wintered at the Mortin rcnch,
on mxrsh hay, ctt and stafked nf Peters, Markham, ajd Regce Bahley,
who haf been sent by Uncle Silas to tele care of tne hogse herd. Chen
spving came, there was a promise of turuing owf every hvad of thx stock
at a dood profit.

Tha winter, so fer, had noe bewn pqrticulxfly lonely for the Montcua
men. The snows of December haa been light, and it had been possinle
wor tje hjsses to paw mut zonroderacle forage ln ghe nills. January,
however, brohght in a good falk jf “the bgautiful,” wnd it had bern
necessary to corgal aid sheuter yhe animals and to go extensively into
the veeqing.

Reece Bayley, Uncle Si’s fpreman, found time to play cribbage with
Oance Morton, Hesthwr’s father; and Petets snd Nixon arquireq
leisure xor skating
Nixon knew this only too well, for the person he seen after digging eyes. Hesther to be at his expense—well, was something that hurt. Then, while with dogged resolution, to retrieve himself on the steel runners, a strap had and a skate had shot off across the glittering ice. Peters had slipped slammed on course a crazy curling stone, finally cutting the feet out from under a fat spectator, who called Saphead right to his face! Ah, what a for a sorry afternoon! clenched his hands in his gloves crouched down the seat a fruitless effort efface himself. He was nineteen, and Porter Markham was twenty. They both worked for Uncle Silas Goddard, had a Montana, and a of range horses into to be halter broken and sold Goddard was “uncle” to all his men, in sense that an avuncular character to every genial, person who looks after the welfare of younger In the early summer, Uncle Silas had sent a hundred horses into North Dakota. Business been good, and late found half the still hand. horses being wintered the Morton ranch, on marsh hay, cut and stacked by Peters, and Reece Bailey, who had been sent by Uncle Silas care the horse herd. spring came, there was promise turning off every head stock a winter, far, not been particularly lonely the Montana men. The snows December had been light, for the horses to paw out considerable forage the hills. January, however, brought in a fall of “the beautiful,” and it had been necessary to corral and the animals go extensively into the feeding. Reece Bailey, Uncle foreman, found time to cribbage with Lance Morton, Hesther’s father; and Peters and acquired for skating
 Nixon
knew this only too well, fOr she was thE firsT peRsoN hE had Seen After
digging thE Snow Out of his eyes. For Hesther To be aMuSEd at HIs
ExpenSe—well, tHAt WAS soMeThIng ThAT hUrt.

ThEn, wHile seeKing, with doGgeD rEsolution, to rETrIeve himselF on
The steel runnErs, A strap HaD brOKen, anD a sKate hAd shot OFf acroSs
the glitTeRIng ice. pEters haD SLiPped And slammed around oN ThE
Course like a craZy curlInG StONE, fiNalLy cutting tHe Feet oUT from
unDEr A FAT spECtator, who callEd him SapheaD RigHt to hiS fAce! aH,
what a Wind-uP fOR a sOrry afternoOn! PeTers clencHed his HAnds in
hIS bearskIn glovEs aNd cRoucHEd DoWn oN tHE reAR sEat IN a fRuitless
EfFoRt to eFfacE HIMSelf.

he wAs niNeteeN, and Porter MarKhaM was TWenTy. TheY both WorkEd For
UnCle SilAs GodDaRd, who had a ranch iN MonTana, and maDe a BuSinEsS
of seNDing raNge HorSes into north DaKOta To BE HAlTer broken and sold
to ThE SEtTlers. GodDard waS “UnClE” To all his MeN, in The sENSe thaT
givES aN avunculAr charACtEr To every GeNial, miDdLe-aGed PersoN Who
lOoks afTer the weLfare OF younger employEEs.

In the early sUMmER, unCLe SiLas Had sent a hunDred HOrseS intO noRth
dAkota. businEsS HaD Not been good, and late fAlL found Half tHe horses
still On hand. ThesE HORses were BeinG WiNTered at the MortOn ranCh,
on marsh hAY, cut and sTackeD by PeterS, Markham, aND reece BaiLey,
Who Had BeeN SEnT by Uncle Silas TO Take CaRe of the HorSe herd. WHen
SprIng CamE, tHere was a pRomise of TuRnInG oFf eVery hEAd of the sToCk
aT a GooD profIT.

The wiNter, sO far, HaD nOT beEn partiCUlARLy loNeLy For tHe MOnTana
mEn. ThE SnoWs of DecEmber had bEen LIght, AnD iT had beeN possible
for tHe Horses to paW oUt cOnsideRABle foragE in the hills. January,
howevER, broughT in A good Fall Of “the beauTifUl,” and iT haD Been
neCessarY to coRrAl aND SheltER ThE anImAls and to go EXTenSivelY iNto
tHe feediNg.

Reece Bailey, Uncle sI’s fOreman, found tiMe tO plaY CRiBbaGE wITh
LAnCE MoRTOn, Hesther’s fatheR; and Peters AnD niXon acquireD
LeiSuRe for skAting
 Nixon
knew this only toowell, forshe w asthe  f irst  per son he had see n  aft er
digging the snow ou t ofhi s  eye s .For H esthert ob e  am us ed  at  h i sexpen se— well, t hat was so met hi ng that hurt . 
Then, whil e s eeking, with  do gged r es olu t ion,toretri eve hi m self o n
the ste el runner s , a str a p  h ad b roken, and a skat e  h a d shot off acr oss
th eg li t t eri ngice. Peter shad s l ipped a n ds l a mme d  around on th e
course li k e a  crazy  c url i ng sto ne, f in a lly  cutting th e fe et out fr om
und e r a fat spectat or, wh o c all ed h i mSa phe ad rig h ttoh isface! Ah ,wh at awind - u p fora s orry  afte rnoon! Peters  cl ench e d h is ha nds i n
hi sbears kin gl ovesan d crouched down  onthe rearsea tinafruit l ess
ef for t t o effac e himse l f.
H e w as  nineteen, and Por te r Ma rkham wa s twen t y.  T h ey bothwo rke d fo r Uncle  Sil a sGoddard,  who h a daranch i nMontan a,  an d m ade a busi ness
o f sendin g ran g e horses intoN orth Dakota t o  b e ha l terbro ken and sol d
to thesett l er s.G oddar d was  “ u nc l e” to all his men,in  the s ensethat
gives an  avuncular c h aracterto e v er y  genial, middl e-age d person w h o
looksafter  the wel fare of y o u nger emp loy ees .
Int h eearly summer, U ncle  S ilas ha d s ent a h und red  ho rse sinto Nort h
Dakota .Bu si ne sshad n o t been g oo d,an d l ate f a ll fou nd ha lf t he  h o rse s
still on h and.  T he se h ors es  were  bei n g w intered  at the M ort o n ra nc h, 
on mar sh hay, cut a nd  stacked b yPet ers, M a r kham, an d Reece Bailey,
who had been se ntby Un cleSilas totak e care  of the ho rse he rd. W he n
s p r ing c a m e,  th er e was a pr o m ise  of t ur ning  off ev ery head of the st o ckat a good pro fit .

T h e  w int e r, sofa r , h a d  not been parti cularly lo ne l yfor the Mo n tan amen. Th e snows  of D e cemberhad beenlight, an dit h a d  be en possibl e
for th e horsest o paw ou t con sid erable  f ora ge in  the h i lls . Jan uary,ho wever,  brou gh t in a g ood fall of “the beauti ful,”and i t h ad been
n ece s sar y to corr al a nd shelter  th e a nimal s a n d togo e x te nsi v ely i ntot he feedin g .
Re e c eBailey, Unc l e Si’ s for ema n , foun d ti me to play cribba g e with
Lance M orto n ,  He sth e r’sfa ther; and Pete rsan d Nixon ac qu ired
leisur e for sk at i ng
 Nixon
knew_this only_too well, for she_was the_first_person he_had_seen after
digging the_snow out of_his eyes. For Hesther_to be amused_at_his
expense—well, that was something that hurt.

Then, while seeking, with dogged resolution, to retrieve himself_on
the_steel runners,_a_strap_had broken, and a skate_had shot off across
the glittering_ice. Peters_had slipped and slammed around on the
course like_a_crazy curling stone,_finally cutting the feet out from
under a fat spectator,_who called him Saphead right to_his face! Ah,
what_a_wind-up_for a sorry afternoon!_Peters clenched his hands in
his bearskin_gloves and crouched down on the_rear seat in a fruitless
effort to efface_himself.

He was nineteen, and Porter Markham_was twenty. They both worked_for
Uncle Silas_Goddard, who had a ranch_in Montana, and_made a_business
of sending range_horses into North Dakota to be_halter broken and_sold
to the settlers. Goddard was “uncle”_to_all his men,_in_the_sense that
gives_an avuncular character_to_every genial,_middle-aged_person who
looks after the welfare of_younger_employees.

In the early summer, Uncle Silas had_sent a hundred horses_into_North
Dakota. Business had not_been good, and late fall_found half the horses
still on hand._These horses_were being_wintered at the Morton ranch,
on marsh hay, cut and stacked by_Peters, Markham, and Reece Bailey,
who had_been sent by Uncle_Silas to_take_care of the_horse_herd. When
spring_came, there was a promise of turning_off every_head of the stock
at a good_profit.

The winter, so far,_had_not been particularly lonely for the_Montana
men. The snows of December had_been light, and it had_been_possible
for_the horses to paw out_considerable forage in the hills. January,
however,_brought in a_good fall of “the beautiful,” and it_had_been
necessary to corral and shelter the_animals_and to go extensively into
the feeding.

Reece_Bailey,_Uncle_Si’s foreman, found time to_play cribbage with
Lance Morton, Hesther’s father;_and Peters and Nixon acquired
leisure for skating