old age, the ranchman forgot all bodily ills.

Victorino was scarcely out of the compound when the Captain had summoned
Ming from the dining-room and San Soo from his pots and pans.

"Put off dinner. Maybe we won't have any dinner to-night, San Soo," said
the owner of the Bar-T. "We're in trouble. You and Ming shut the doors
when I go out and bar them. Stand watch. Don't let a soul in unless I
come back or Miss Frances appears. Understand, boys?"

"Can do," declared the bigger Chinaman, with impassive face.

"Me understland Clapen velly well," said Ming, who wished always to show
that he "spoke Melican."

"All right," returned Captain Rugley. "Help me with this coat, San.
Ming! Bring me my belt and gun. Yes, that's it. It's loaded. Plenty of
cartridges in that box? So. Now I'm off," concluded the Captain, and
went to the door again to meet Silent Sam Harding, the foreman.

"Read this," jerked out the ranchman, and thrust the crumpled letter
into Sam Harding's hand.

Without a word the foreman spread open the paper and studied it. In
perfectly plain handwriting he read the following astonishing epistle:

"Captain Dan Rugley,
"Bar-T Ranch.

"We've got your girl. She will be held prisoner exactly
twenty-four hours from time you receive this. Then, if you have
not made arrangements to pay our agent $5,000 (five thousand
dolls.), something will happen to your girl. We are willing to
put our necks in a noose for the five thousand. Come across, and
come across quick. No check. Cash does it. You can get cash at
branch bank in Jackleg. We will know when you get cash and then
you'll be told who to hand money to and how to find your girl.
Remember, we mean business. You try to trail us, or rescue your
daughter without paying five thousand and we'll get square with
you by fixing the girl. That's all at present."

This threatening missive was unsigned. Silent Sam read it twice. Then he
handed it back to the Captain.

"Does it look like a joke to you--a poor sort of a joke?" whispered the
ranchman.

"I wouldn't say so," muttered Sam.

"I'm going after them," said Captain Rugley, with determination.

"How?"

"Somebody handed Vic this on the trail. He'll show us where. We'll try
to pick up the man's traces. Of course it was one of the scoundrels
handed the letter to Vic."

"Who do ye think they are?" asked Sam, slowly.

"I don't know," said the worried ranchma