“By the Lord!  Are punchers so damn scarce in this neck uh the woods, that yuh’ve got to shanghai a man in order to make a full crew?” he demanded of the Happy Family, in the voice of Weary—­minus the drawl.  “I’ve got a string uh cayuses in that darn stockyards, back in town—­and a damn poor town it is!—­and I’ve also got a date with the Circle roundup for tomorrow night.  What yuh going to do about it?  Speak up, for I’m in a hurry to know.”

The Happy Family looked at one another and said nothing.

“Say,” began Weary, mildly.  “Did yuh say your name was Ira Mallory, and do yuh mind how they used to mix us up in school, when we were both kids?  ’Cause I’ve got a hunch you’re the same irrepressible that has the honor to be my cousin.”

“I didn’t say it,” retorted his other self, pugnaciously.  “But I don’t know as it’s worth while denying it.  If you’re Will Davidson, shake.  What the devil d’yuh want to look so much like me, for?  Ain’t yuh got any manners?  Yuh always was imitating your betters.”  He grinned and got slowly to his feet.  “Boys, I don’t know yuh, but I’ve a hazy recollection that we had one hell of a time shooting up that little townerine, back there.  I don’t go on a limb very often, but when I do, folks are apt to find it out right away.”

The Happy Family laughed.

“By golly,” said Slim slowly, “that cousin story ’s all right—­but I bet yuh you two fellows are twins, at the very least!”

“Guess again, Slim,” cried Weary, already in the clutch of old times.  “Run away and play, you kids.  Irish and me have got steen things to talk about, and mustn’t be bothered.”

THE UNHEAVENLY TWINS

There was a dead man’s estate to be settled, over beyond the Bear Paws, and several hundred head of cattle and horses had been sold to the highest bidder, who was Chip Bennett, of the Flying U. Later, there were the cattle and horses to be gathered and brought to the home range; and Weary, always Chip’s choice when came need of a trusted man, was sent to bring them.  He was to hire what men he needed down there, work the range with the Rocking R, and bring home the stock—­when his men could take the train and go back whence they had come.

The Happy Family was disappointed.  Pink and Irish, especially, had hoped to be sent along; for both knew well the range north of the Bear Paws, and both would like to have made the trip with Weary.  But men were scarce and the Happy Family worked well together—­so well that Chip grudged every man of them that ever had to be sent afar.  So Weary went alone, and Pink and Irish watched him wistfully when he rode away and were extremely unpleasant companions for the rest of that day, at least.

Over beyond the Bear Paws men seemed scarcer even than around the Flying U range.  Weary scouted fruitlessly for help, wasted two days in the search, and then rode to Bullhook and sent this wire—­collect—­to Chip, and grinned as he wondered how much it would cost.  He, too, had rather resented being sent off down there alone.