ry
earnestly.

Kid Wolf took his hand warmly.

"Don Floristo has already given orders that the six hundred head of S
Bar steers are to be driven to Mariposa to-night. I am to ride south
to his ranch and close the deal. Early manana the three loyal S Bar
men will seize the cattle and drive them home. Yo' and I must help."

"Yo're riskin' yore life for strangers, Kid. Floristo is a
dyed-in-the-wool villain. If he suspects anything, he'll cut yore
throat. But I'm with yuh! Yuh've brought me to myself. I didn't
suppose they made hombres like you!"

"Thanks, Harry. Now listen carefully and I'll tell yo' exactly what to
do."

For a few minutes The Kid talked earnestly to young Thomas, outlining
their night's work. Then Kid Wolf took leave of the young
man--slipping back through the shadows to the street again.

Harry Thomas walked quickly to the Establo--Mariposa's biggest livery
stable. Kid Wolf mounted his horse Blizzard. He struck off through
the town at an easy trot and headed southward through the darkness.

Don Manuel Floristo's rancho was the largest in that part of Mexico.
Several thousand steers roamed his range--steers that for the most part
bore doubtful brands. Don Floristo's reputation was not of the best.
His rancho was suspected of being a mere trading ground for stolen
herds. Rustlers from both sides of the line made his land their
objective.

Kid Wolf had found the S Bar cattle easily enough. The brands had been
gone over, being burned to an 8 Bar J. The work had been done so
recently, however, that he was not deceived. He had called on the don
and told him that he was "interested in cattle," which was true. The
don's lust for gold had done the rest. He supposed that Kid Wolf was
an American who desired to go into the ranching business near the
boundary. A good chance to get rid of the "hot" herd of six hundred!

"Just the size of herd the senor needs to start," Floristo had said.
"Six hundred head at ten pesos--six thousand pesos. Ees it not cheap,
amigo?"

"Very cheap," The Kid had told him. "Now if these cattle were
delivered at Mariposa----"

"Easy to say, but no harder to do, senor," was the don's eager reply.
"I will give orders now to have them driven there. Do you wish to buy
a ranch, senor? Or have you bought? Perhaps I could help."

"Perhaps. But I want cattle right now. I have friends just no'th of
the bordah."

The don had smiled cunningly. This fool