His Royal Nibs

A stranger in neat tweeds brings confusion to the O Bar O ranch between Calgary and Banff. Facing an advancing steer, he throws his bag at it and sends the herd scattering down the road. The ranch hands restore order, then confront a visitor whose cheerful politeness bewilders them. When he asks for work, Bully Bill's rough speech and pride in practical cattle raising meet the Englishman's easy manners. The comic encounter unfolds beside a highway crowded with veterans hoping to find employment.

Elsewhere, Hilda struggles with feelings for a man she believes has failed an important test. Affection and jealousy complicate her stern judgment. In a Calgary newspaper office, Duncan Mallison brings sketches that draw the editor's attention, including a portrait of Hilda standing beside her horse. These passages combine brisk ranch comedy with closer studies of emotion and appearance. Readers can follow the contrast between public confidence and private uncertainty through vivid dialogue and carefully observed faces.