averted
her eyes, "there'll come a time when we'll talk real serious about
that. I'm goin' to tell the range boss to get ready for a drive to Las
Vegas."

"That is a hundred and seventy-five miles!" gasped the girl.

"I've followed a trail herd two thousand," grinned Sanderson.

"You mean that you will go yourself--with the outfit?"

"Sure."

Sanderson went out, mounted Streak, and found the range boss--Eli
Carter. Carter and the men were ordered to round up all the Double A
cattle and get ready to drive them to Las Vegas. Sanderson told Carter
he would accompany the outfit.

Cutting across the basin toward the ranchhouse, he saw another horseman
riding fast to intercept him, and he swerved Streak and headed toward
the other.

The rider was Williams, and when Sanderson got close enough to see his
face he noted that the engineer was pale and excited.

CHAPTER XVIII

CHECKED BY THE SYSTEM

The engineer waved a yellow paper at Sanderson and shouted:

"I just got this. I made a hit with the Okar agent last week, and he
sent a man over with it. That's a damned scoundrelly bunch that's
working against you! Do you know what they've done?"

Sanderson said nothing, and the engineer resumed, explosively:

"They've tied up your money at the Lazette bank! My material men won't
send a pound of stuff to me until they get the cash! We're
stopped--dead still!"

He passed a telegram to Sanderson, who read:

Bank here refuses to honor Sanderson's check. Claim money belongs to
Bransford estate. Legal tangle. Must have cash or won't send material.

THE BRANDER COMPANY.

A flicker of Sanderson's eyelids was all the emotion he betrayed to
Williams. The latter looked at him admiringly.

"By George," he said, "you take it like a major! In your shoes I'd get
off my nag and claw up the scenery!"

Sanderson smiled. After telling the engineer to do as much as he could
without the material, he rode on.

He had betrayed no emotion in the presence of Williams, but he was
seething with passion.

Late the next afternoon he joined Carter and the outfit. The men had
made good use of their time, and when Sanderson arrived, the entire
herd of cattle was massed on a broad level near the river. They were
milling impatiently, for the round-up had just been completed, and they
were nervous over the unusual activity.

The cowboys, bronzed, lean, and capable, were guarding the herd, riding
slowly around th