The range is overstocked with a thousand more cattle on
it. We're pore men, and Wright he owns half of Californy. He's got a
million acres of his own without crowdin' in on us."
"This is the public domain, for all the public----" began Plant,
pompously, but George Pollock, the younger, cut in.
"We've run this range afore you had any Forest Reserves, afore you came
into this country, Henry Plant, and our fathers and our grandfathers!
We've built up our business here, and we've built our ranches and we've
made our reg'lations and lived up to 'em! We ain't going to be run off
our range without knowin' why!"
"Just because you've always hogged the public land is no reason why you
should always continue to do so," said Plant cheerfully.
"Who's the public? Simeon Wright? or the folks up and down the
mountains, who lives in the country?"
"You've got the same show as Wright or anybody else."
"No, we ain't," interposed Jim Pollock, "for we're playin' a different
game."
"Well, what is it you want me to do, anyway?" demanded Plant. "The man
has his permit. You can't expect me to tell him to get to hell out of
there when he has a duly authorized permit, do you?"
The Pollocks looked at each other.
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