her did I. But you must remember one thing--that fellow was dinging
at him for money. He said Brassy must get it or there would be trouble."

"Yes, I'm remembering that, Fred. I must confess it looks pretty bad. But
I don't think we had better say anything until we know more about the
men."

"Let's pump Andy and Randy all we can."

Fred's suggestion was followed out, and the four Rover boys talked the
matter over among themselves. The twins were as much surprised as Fred
had been when Jack mentioned what was in his mind.

"Gee, that Bud Haddon may be the guilty one!" burst out Randy. "Why
didn't we think of this before? Colonel Colby might have put a detective
on his trail."

"Do you think we ought to send him a telegram or anything like that?"
asked Andy.

"It wouldn't do much good. What would be better, I think, is for us to
watch the man and see if we can find out more about him. If he is going
to Arrow Junction we may have a chance of learning more about him out
there. Did he expect to stay at the Junction?"

"I think so--or at least in that vicinity. The whole crowd is bound for
some ranch out there."

"Then if we learn anything of importance against the fellow we can have
the local authorities make an investigation," said Jack.

"Gosh! wouldn't it be queer if that fellow really had robbed Colby Hall
and if Brassy was mixed up in it?" remarked Randy.

"It would be terrible if Brassy was guilty," answered Jack. "It would
just about ruin him forever."

"Come on, Jack. Suppose you and I walk back and see if we can locate the
fellows," suggested Fred. "They don't know us, so they won't be
suspicious."

"Well, we might try it," was the young major's reply.

And thereupon he and his cousin walked through the cars to the place
where the twins said Bud Haddon and his two companions were seated.

CHAPTER XIX

IN THE SADDLE

The two boys located the three men without any trouble. They were seated
near the end of the car where there was a water cooler, and here the two
lads stopped to fumble for a minute or two over the paper drinking cups
and then to take their time getting a drink.

"Yes, we ought to make a lot of money on that deal, Noxley," they heard
Bud Haddon say. "That is, provided we mind what we're doin'."

"Oh, there'll be no trip-up this time," answered the man called Noxley.

"I've been wonderin' how many horses there would be that we could sell,"
put in the third man of the group.