ggering how
to git it ag'in. There isn't anything too mean fur him to do fur money.
He doesn't care any more fur the feelings of others than Geronimo."

"It looks as if the plan of abducting Fred and holding him for ransom is
his."

"There ain't no doubt of it; he come to the ranch soon after we'd gone
and larned all 'bout you tenderfeet from the boys themselves. The
thought come to him at once that one of the chances of his lifetime was
his. It's queer he made the mistake of believing that it was the father
of the other younker as owned part of the ranch, but he got matters
twisted in some way. You can see that if it hadn't been fur that blunder
of his, it would be _you_ that your friend and me would be looking fur."

"I wish it were," was the honest exclamation of Jack Dudley; "but how
was it he came to form his partnership with Motoza?"

"You've heard it said the devil takes care of his own; Bill and Motoza
are old friends and have been in more than one shady job. I can't know,
but I think Bill must have larned or suspicioned that the Sioux warn't
fur off and he set out to hunt him up. Anyway they managed to come
together, and the job was fixed up atween 'em. Howsumever," said the
guide, "there ain't no use of talking and guessing over what _has been_,
but we must face what _is_. Now, if Doctor Greenwood has word by
telegraph that he must pay five thousand dollars to git his younker back
agin, what'll he think?"

"He will think that this has been a pretty expensive outing for Fred,"
replied Jack, whose buoyancy of spirits prompted his trivial answer.

"Will he pay the money?"

"Yes, and twice as much more, if it is necessary; but won't he be
startled and puzzled to know the meaning of it all! He will come right
out here himself and bring some of the best detectives in the country."

"And if he does that, he'll never see his boy alive."

Jack looked at Hazletine in alarm and amazement. The cowman saw phases
of this extraordinary business that had not presented themselves to the
youth, and he now proceeded to impress them upon him. In the first
place, the cunning Tozer would make sure of protecting himself and
Motoza, though the last was purely a matter of policy and self interest,
since he was always ready to sacrifice a comrade. In arranging the
ransom or exchange, Tozer would take no chances. The friends of Fred
Greenwood would have to remain out of sight and in the background. It
would be impossible for a