The Rules of the Game

by Stewart Edward White

  XXII

  To most who heard of it this item of news was interesting, but notespecially important; Bob could not see where it made much differencewho held the reins three thousand miles away. To others it came as theunhoped-for, dreamed-of culmination of aspiration.

  California John got the news from Martin. The old man had come in from along trip.

  "You got to take a brace now and be scientific," chaffed Martin. "Youold mossback! Don't you dare fall any more trees without measuring outthe centre of gravity; and don't you split any more wood unless youcalculate first the probable direction of riving; and don't you let anydoodle-bug get away without looking at his teeth."

  California John grinned slowly, but his eyes were shining.

  "And what's more, you old grafters'll get bounced, sure pop," continuedMartin. "They won't want you. You don't wear spectacles, and you eat toomany proteids in your beans."

  "You ain't heard who's going to be sent out for Supervisor?" asked oldJohn.

  "They haven't found any one with thick enough glasses yet," retortedMartin.

  California John made some purchases, packed his mule, and climbed backup the mountain to the summer camp. Here he threw off his saddle andsupplies, and entered the ranger cabin. A rusty stove was very hot. Atopbubbled a capacious kettle. California John removed the cover and peeredin.

  "Chicken 'n' dumpling!" said he.

  He drew a broken-backed chair to the table and set to business. In tenminutes his plate contained nothing but chicken bones. He contemplatedthem with satisfaction.

  "I reckon that'll even up for that bacon performance," he remarked inreference to some past joke on himself.

  At dusk three men threw open the outside door and entered. They foundCalifornia John smoking his pipe contemplatively before a clean table.

  "Now, you bowlegged old sidewinder," said Ross Fletcher, striding to thedoor, "we'll show you something you don't get up where you come from."

  "What is it?" asked California John with a mild curiosity.

  "Chicken," replied Fletcher.

  He peered into the kettle. Then he lit a match and peered again. Hereached for a long iron spoon with which he fished up, one afteranother, several dumplings. Finally he swore softly.

  "What's the matter, Ross?" inquired California John.

  "You know what's the matter," retorted Ross shaking the spoon.

  California John arose and looked down into the kettle.

  "Thought you said you had chicken," he observed; "looks to me likedumplin' soup."

  "I did have chicken," replied the man. "Oh, you Miles!--Bob!--come here.This old wreck has gone and stole all our chicken."

  The boys popped in from the next room.

  "I never," expostulated California John, his eyes twinkling. "I neverstole nothin'. I just came in and found a poor old hen bogged down in amess of dough, so I rescued her."

  The other man said nothing for some time, but surveyed California Johnfrom head to toe and from toe to head again.

  "Square," said he at last.

  "Square," replied California John with equal gravity. They shook hands.

  While the newcomers ate supper, California John read laboriously hisaccumulated mail. After spelling through one document he uttered ahearty oath.

  "What is it?" asked Ross, suspending operations.

  "They've put me in as Supervisor to succeed Plant," replied CaliforniaJohn, handing over the official document. "I ain't no supervisor."

  "I'd like to know why not," spoke up Miles indignantly. "You know thesemountains better'n any man ever set foot in 'em."

  "I ain't got no education," replied California John.

  "Damn good thing," growled Ross.

  California John smoked with troubled brow.

  "What's the matter with you, anyhow?" demanded Ross impatiently, after awhile; "ain't you satisfied?"

  "Oh, I'm satisfied well enough, but I kind of hate to leave the service;I like her."

  "Quit!" cried Ross.

  "No," denied California John, "but I'll get fired. First thing," heexplained, "I'm going after Simeon Wright's grazing permits. He ain't noright in the mountains, and the ranges are overstocked. He can't trailin ten thousand head while I'm supposed to be boss, so it looks asthough I wasn't going to be boss long after Simeon Wright comes in."

  "Oh, go slow," pleaded Ross; "take things a little easy at first, andthen when you get going you can tackle the big things."

  "I ain't going to enforce any regulations they don't give me," statedCalifornia John, "and I'm going to try to enforce all they do. That'swhat I'm here for."

  "That means war with Wright," said Ross.

  "Then war it is," agreed California John comfortably.

  "You won't last ten minutes against Wright."

  "Reckon not," agreed old John, "reckon not; but I'll last long enough tomake him take notice."