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JOHN HANNON'S FIRMAMENT 5

could see. Four living springs among the mesas, more precious than gold in that half desert land were by his right of long possession and might of protection. His cattle drank from their crystal flow and all others were jealously kept away. Not that many strays found their way so far across his ranges, for neighbours were scattered sparsely in the wide country.

Cowboys, vaqueros, slept in the long bunk-house that stood to the right of the ranch-house and the barns, followed the rattling chuck-wagons, rode the range and were John Hannon's to a man, for this big heavy ranchero was of a personality that drew men to him strongly, or repelled them as strongly. Those who came to work for him and felt the latter side of him, soon departed, for he was keen as a hawk and knew his own immediately. His hand was open to his friends, closed and heavy to his enemies. To that which opposed him he was iron, steel, cold and hard as granite. His dark eyes were changeable, soft as shadows when he looked upon his wife, keen and bright as flame when his swift anger was aroused.

And that was not so rare a thing, this rousing of his wrath, for there were those who resented his broad fields of alfalfa that ran toward the south, who called him a "nester," that title of opprobrium—the cattlemen, who looked with suspicion and desire upon the pride of John Hannon's heart, namely the wondrous horses that ran inside his fences.