A RANCHMAN'S RECOLLECTIONS 



them picture books about the S. M. S. Ranch, and I 

 read where it said, 'No use to write for a job,' so I 

 just cum. I kin do anything I start out to do; I 

 wanted to work on a ranch ever since I was a little 

 feller; I can learn to do anything you want done, 

 and I sure am going to work for you." 



Scandalous blinked again, and said, "Why, son, 

 we would hev' to hev' permission from your pa and 

 ma, even if we had a job, 'cause you might git hurt." 



A shade of sadness swept for a moment over the 

 young face; then it shone again with a new light 

 of conviction. 



"I ain't got no pa or ma, I been in the orphan 

 asylum until two years ago, when a fine man, the 

 one with the book, took me on his farm to do chores. 

 I didn't run away from him, neither; he said I was 

 so crazy about comin' I'd better start. I been on 

 the road so long the things he give me wore out. I 

 guess I walked about a month. They told me in 

 town to go to the office, but I was afraid they'd turn 

 me down, so I cum to camp, and I'm a-going to stay 

 and work for nothing." 



There is a straight path to the hearts of cowboys, 

 if one knows the way, and Scandalous was glad to 

 hear the chorus from the whole outfit, "Let him stay 

 Scandalous. We'll help him. Give the little boy a 

 job." 



"Reckon you kin drive the hoodlum wagon, 'Little 

 Boy'," said John, and, like a flash, came this re- 



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