160 WHEAT AND WOMAN 



was three days later when he came to me on the 

 matter of the plough, for which he seemed to have 

 no language in reserve. 



"I've never been done over a plough I guess 

 before, but I can't get this fellow to go nohow. I 

 guess Dick McGusty should take her back all right, 

 and give you another." 



" He won't do that," I answered. " My brother 

 used it, although not much. But he is certain to 

 say we have spoiled it." 



" He won't waste time saying that to me, I 

 guess. Anyway I am going down to the Fort this 

 evening. Guess you best write and tell him the 

 plough won't work, and he must come up and set 

 her right." 



But Dick McGusty wasn't in town. He had a 

 valuable homestead in the neighbourhood of Loom 

 Creek, and he had failed so far to put in time, 

 or perform the duties attached to the true possession 

 of the same. Any newcomer in search of a desirable 

 homestead usually hunts around for these quarter- 

 sections nominally attached to absent owners, and 

 has no scruple about taking their place if possible. 

 Roddy McMahon and I both knew of one who had 

 an eye on this particular homestead. 



" 'Twould take a better man than him to jump 

 Dick McGusty's homestead," he said, " but I guess 

 he has shifted him on from the Fort all right. Joe 

 Salmon, he's down at the Massey-Harris shed now, 

 but I guess they won't have implements down there 

 much longer. All the land's settled round the 

 Fort, and if Dick McGusty's going to Cupar he'll 

 take all he can with him. Guess 'twas a pity you 

 paid for that plough." 



