1 68 Life of a Fossil Hunter 



" Why, certainly," I answered. I have noticed 

 that most men are liberal with other men's property. 

 " I don't own the ranch, but we have just put our 

 horses in the barn, where there is plenty of hay and 

 oats, and there is plenty of food here. George will 

 show you the way to the barn and help you 

 unhitch, and I will have supper ready when you 

 return." 



He thanked me, and while they were putting up 

 the team, I got a hot supper with materials from 

 Mr. Button's larder. This meal was greatly relished 

 by our midnight guest. 



I returned to the bed and my pipe, and was enter- 

 ing into a lively conversation with the stranger, 

 when the thought suddenly flashed into my head, 

 What if this man owns the ranch? I sprang from 

 the bed on the instant, and fired pointblank the 

 question, " Do you know Lee Button? " 



" Yes, I've seen him," was the answer. 



" That's your name, isn't it? " I asked. 



" Yes," said the stranger, and I felt so cheap that 

 I would have sold out for nothing. But this was 

 Mr. Button's chance to show what sort of a man he 

 was, and when I apologized for the freedom with 

 which we had made ourselves at home in his house 

 and used his goods, he told me that we had done 

 exactly right, and that he would have felt hurt if 

 we had acted otherwise. 



