PICTURE While Jamie kept to his room, still ashamed and Six confused, the others shared what they had learned. At last Joe said, "So what do you aim to do about it, Pa?" "It's not my decision alone," Ben replied. "Your vote's the equal of mine." "Shucks, Pa," put in Hoss with his easy grin. "You know how we feel about him. It's a unanimous vote."

 PICTURE It wasn't unanimous, though, as far as Jamie was  concerned. "You don't really want to adopt me," he told the startled Cartwrights. "You just feel sorry for me, because of Phinney Me Lain and that stupid paper. Well, I don't want any sympathy. I'll go on living here, and I'll pull my weight on the ranch-but any time you get tired of me, all you've got to do is say so." Hoss and Joe started to protest, but Ben stopped them with a gesture and signaled them to leave. Before leaving himself he said, "Nobody's ever going to say that, Jamie. Now get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow after school you and I are going to drive in to Carson City. "What for?" Jamie demanded, curious in spite of himself. Ben smiled. "Supposing you just wait and see. Now I'm going to send Hop Sing up. Better sample what he brings."

View-Master Reel Two PICTURE

The Carson City visit was to the office of Judge Taylor, an old friend of Ben's. The rancher handed over a meager collection of documents and old photographs. "This is all we know about Jamie's parents," he said. "That and what Jamie's been able to tell us. Not much to go on." After examining the papers, the judge questioned Jamie. "Did your father ever mention your mother's maiden name —or where she came from?" "No sir. He never talked about her because it—well it sort of broke him up." "Never mentioned her parents —your grandparents, that is? Or any other relations?" Jamie shook his head. The judge studied the papers again, then said, "Well, Ben, I see no legal bar to your adoption request. I'll draw up the papers tomorrow." As realization dawned in Jamie's eyes, Ben gave him a wink. "Now I do feel sorry for you, Son, because now those brothers of yours will have a legal right to whale the tar out of you if you step out of line!"

PICTURE Riding high on a wave of joy brought on by his TWO newfound identity, the newest member of the Cartwright family, drew chuckles from the others as they watched him knock himself out to work harder and study longer than any boy in the West. "1 give him about a week," Hoss observed, "till he starts to duck out and go fishin' like any other kid." As it turned out, not even a week went by before a tall, imposing stranger in Eastern garb drove up to Ponderosa, and the bottom fell out of Jamie's world.

PICTURE He introduced himself to Ben as Ferris Callahan,of Boston, owner of a big shipping company. "This is the end of years of searching," he said. "Mr. Cartwright, I am this boy's grandfather!" Stunned, Jamie could only stare, but Ben quickly pulled himself together. "You can prove this, can you?" "I can, sir," Callahan said, and proceeded to do so with faded photographs and a set of documents that included a marriage license unmistakably that of Jamie's parents. His new identity threatened, Jamie glared with hostility. ETC ETC