How eagerly these lonely pioneer people listened to news of the outside world! Jean talked until he was hoarse.

In their turn his hearers told him much that had never found place in the few and short letters he had received since he had been left in Oregon.
Not a word about sheepmen or any hint of rustlers! Jean marked the omission and thought all the more seriously of probabilities because nothing was said.

Altogether the evening was a happy reunion of a family of which all living members were there present.

Jean grasped that this fact was one of significant satisfaction to his father.
"Shore we're all goin' to live together heah," he declared.

"I started this range.