tolen from Sinkhole. For so did conscience
magnify the catastrophe. He had dared to assume that his presence there
at Sinkhole was necessary to the welfare of the Rolling R! Johnny
laughed, but tears would have been less bitter than his laughter.

He had been proud of himself, arrogantly sure of his ability, his nerve,
his general superiority. He, who had shirked his duty, the work that won
him his food and clothes and money to spend, he had blandly considered
himself master of himself, master of his destiny! He had fatuously
believed that, had belittled his work and thought it unworthy his time
and thought and ability--and he had let himself be hoodwinked and robbed
in broad daylight!

He remembered the days when he had compromised with his work, had ridden
to a certain pinnacle that commanded a wide view of the range, and had
looked out over the country from the top--and had hurried back to the
niche to work on the airplane, calling his duty to the Rolling R done for
that day. He might better have stolen those horses himself, Johnny
thought. He would at least have the satisfaction of knowing that he had
accomplished what he had set out to do; he would not have to bear this
sickening feeling of failure along with his guilt.

But staring at the horses the thieves had left would not bring back the
ones they had stolen, so Johnny rode back to camp, caught the gentlest of
his two bronks and turned Sandy loose in the pasture. He had formed the
habit of riding over to the airplane before he cooked his supper;
sometimes eating with Bland so that he might the longer gaze upon his
treasure. But to-night he neither rode to the niche nor cooked supper. He
did not want to eat, and he did not want to see his airplane, that had
tempted him to such criminal carelessness.

The telephone called him, and Johnny went dismally to answer. It was old
Sudden, of course; the full, smooth voice that could speak harsh commands
or criticisms and make them sound like pleasantries. Johnny thought the
voice was a little smoother, a little fuller than usual.

"Hello. The boys tell me that they had quite a lot of--excitement--this
morning when they were rounding up a bunch of horses. An aeroplane
swooped down on them with--er--somewhat unpleasant results. Yes. The
horses stampeded, and--er--the boys were compelled to do some hard
riding. Yes. Tex was thrown--that makes two of the boys that are laid up
for repairs. They haven't succeeded in gather