Page:Bob Chester's Grit.djvu/175

Rh "I came out to ask if you'd give me a job on your ranch, Mr. Ford."

"Know anything about ranching?"

"No, sir. But I can learn."

"Who sent you to me?"

"A Mr. Higgins."

"Ned Higgins, eh? Trying another of his jokes, I suppose. Probably thought the dog would chew you up."

Then for a moment that seemed hours to the anxious boy, the ranchman pondered, finally exclaiming:

"Well, we'll fool Higgins this time. I'll take you on for a try. You're sure game or you wouldn't have stood before that fool dog, the way you did. Come in and we'll talk about wages."

And, as Bob entered the cabin, Ford turned to look at the dog, muttering to himself:

"Strange, mighty strange. I never knew him to make friends with any one before."