His ranchhouse boasted a sloped roof and paved galleries.
A garden in the rear was but another instance of Stafford's industry.
He had cattle that were given extraordinary care because they were "milkers," for in his youth Stafford had lived on a farm and he remembered days when his father had sent him out into the meadow to drive the cows home for the milking.

There were many other things that Stafford had not forgotten, for chickens scratched promiscuously about the ranch yard, occasionally trespassing into the sacred precincts of the garden and the flower beds.

His horses were properly stabled during the cold, raw days that came inevitably; his men had little to complain of, and there was a general atmosphere of prosperity over the entire ranch.
But of late there had been little contentment for the Two Diamond manager.

For six months cattle thieves had been at work on his stock.
The result of the spring round-up had been far from satisfactory.

He knew of the existence of nesters in the vicinity; one of them--Radford--he had suspected upon evidence submitted by the range boss.