mighty uphill work."

"It isn't in him," added Fred. "He is tee-totally bad."

"I used to think that of Dan's father, but Arnold Baxter has
reformed--and he wants his son to do likewise."

"Well, that isn't here or there," said Tom after a pause. "What are
we to do just now?"

"Let us push on to town first," answered Songbird. "After that, we
can rearrange our plans if we wish."

This was considered good advice, and once again they urged their
steeds along. Coming to a high point in the trail, they made out
Caville a mile distant, and rode into the town about noon.

It was not much of a place, and the single hotel afforded only the
slimmest of accommodations. But they had to be satisfied, and so made
the best of it.

The meal over, Dick strolled into the office of the tavern, where he
found the proprietor sitting in a big wooden chair leaning against
the counter.

"Quite a town," began the eldest Rover cheerfully.

"Wall, it ain't so bad but what it might be wuss, stranger. Did the
grub suit ye?"

"It did."

"Glad to hear it, stranger. Sometimes the folks from the big cities
find fault. Expect me to run a reg'lar Aster-Delmonicum, or sumthin'
like that."

"It is very hard to suit everybody," said Dick. "By the way," he went
on, "do you know a man around these parts named Sack Todd?"

"Do I know him? To be sure I do, stranger. Friend o' yourn?"

"Not exactly, but I have met him a few times. Where does he live?"

"Lives over to Red Rock ranch, quite a few miles from here."

"Alone?"

"Not exactly. He has a cousin there, I believe, and some others. But
I wouldn't advise you to go over to the ranch, nohow."

"Why?"

"Sack Todd don't take to visitors. The story goes that a visitor once
stopped there an' shot his wife and robbed her, an' since that time
he ain't had no use fer anybody, only them as he knows very well."

"Does he run the ranch for a living?"

"Don't know but what he does, but he don't work very hard a-doin' it."

"Is there an old man working for him--a fellow with thin shoulders
and reddish hair?"

"Yes; an' he's a sour pill, too."

"He must be an odd stick, to keep himself so close."

"Yes; but Sack's a good spender, when he's in the humor of it.
Sometimes he comes to town with a wad o' money an' treats everybody
right an' left. Then ag'in he comes in an' won't notice nobody."

Here the talk came to an end, for the hotel man had to attend to some
new arrivals. Dick joined t