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84 probing given by some of the longer-headed cattlemen.

Such an expert would have to be consulted, good engineers obtained. Sheridan was not a genius, though he had a certain knack of organization back of his imagination. Capital from the East was the last thing he wanted. He had a theory concerning community exploitation of community possibilities that he felt should go a long way towards setting an example of true democracy. So he worked on, from one rancher to another, getting encouragement here, blindness there. From the majority the best he obtained was "Sounds good," but he made progress, setting himself a regular programme of lining up all the cattlemen, for or against. Hollister he left alone. Such a man would be opposed to any progress that made his neighbor equal with himself, would do all he could to thwart any scheme of Sheridan's.

They started from the Circle S one morning at sunrise, Stoney driving a wagon that held lumber, spikes, a pair of hinges, a lock to supplement the bar, and his own tools. Sheridan, Jackson and two cowboys rode their horses. Arrived at the tunnel they went to work with a will by the light of lanterns.

A heavy frame was mortised and fitted snugly to the bottom and sides of the tunnel. It left only a narrow opening at the top, irregular, nowhere more than a foot wide. It seemed certain that this tunnel was the work of man, so well had it been squared. By noon most of the job was done, sufficiently for Stoney and the men to return to the