“You have deserved all you’ll get,” George declared.

They spent the night at a junction, where Flett had some business, and it was the next evening when the local train ran into Sage Butte.  The platform was crowded and as George and Flett alighted, there was a cheer and, somewhat to their astonishment, the reeve of the town advanced to meet them.

“I’m here to welcome you in the name of the citizens of the Butte,” he said.  “We have to request the favor of your company at supper at the Queen’s.”

“It’s an honor,” George responded.  “I’m sensible of it; but, you see, I’m in a hurry to get back to work and I wired for a team.  My harvest should have been started a week ago.”

“Don’t you worry ’bout that,” said the reeve.  “It wasn’t our wish that you should suffer through discharging your duty, and we made a few arrangements.  Four binders have been working steady in your oats, and if you don’t like the way we have fixed things, you can alter them to-morrow.”

Then West touched George’s arm.

“You’ll have to come.  They’ve got two other victims—­Hardie and Grant—­and the supper’s ready.”

The reeve looked at him in stern rebuke.

“That isn’t the way to speak of this function, Percy.  If you feel like a victim, you can drop right out.”

George was touched by the man’s intimation.  He expressed his satisfaction, and the whole assembly escorted him to the hotel.  There he and Grant and Hardie were seated at the top of a long table near the reeve, who made a short opening speech.

“Business first, and then the supper, boys,” he said.  “Corporal Flett can’t come; his bosses wouldn’t approve of it; but I’ll see it put in the Sentinel that he was asked, and we won’t mind if that has some effect on them.  There’s another thing—­out of deference to Mr. Hardie and the change in opinion he has ably led—­you’ll only get tea and coffee at this entertainment.  Those who haven’t signed his book, must hold out until it’s over.”

An excellent meal had been finished when he got up again, with three illuminated strips of parchment in his hand.

“I’ll be brief, but there’s something to be said.  Our guests have set us an example which won’t be lost.  They saw the danger of letting things drift; one of them warned us plainly, although to do so needed grit, and some of us rounded on him, and if the others didn’t talk, it was because that wasn’t their end of the job.  They knew their duty to the country and they did it, though it cost them something.  We owe it to them that the police have smashed the rustler gang, and that from now on no small homesteader can be bluffed or tempted into doing what’s sure to bring him into trouble, and no man with a big farm need fear to let his cattle run.  What’s more, instead of a haunt of toughs and hobos, we’re going to have a quiet and prosperous town.  I’m now proud that it’s my duty to hand our guests the assurance of our grateful appreciation.  Corporal Flett’s will be sent on to him.”