is heels into the horse's ribs. The
storekeeper caught hold of the bridle. "You git down and come home
with me. Where you goin' anyhow?"

"Take your hand off that bridle," blustered Young Pete.

The trader had to laugh. "Got spunk, ain't you? Now you git down and
come along with me, Pete. No use you riding back to the mesa to-night.
Your dad ain't there. You can't find him to-night."

Pete's lip quivered. What right had the store-keeper, or any man, to
take hold of his bridle?

"See here, Pete, where do you think you're goin'?"

"Home!" shrilled Pete as he swung his hat and fanned the horse's ears.
It had been many years since that pony had had his ears fanned, but he
remembered early days and rose to the occasion, leaving the storekeeper
in the dust and Young Pete riding for dear life to stay in the saddle.
Pete's hat was lost in the excitement, and next to his rifle, the old
sombrero inherited from his pop was Pete's dearest possession. But
even when the pony had ceased to pitch, Pete dared not go back for it.
He would not risk being caught a second time.

He jogged along up the mesa trail, peering ahead in the dusk,
half-frightened and half-elated. If the T-Bar-T outfit were going to
run his pop out of the country, Young Pete intended to be in at the
running. The feel of the carbine beneath his leg gave him courage. Up
to the time Annersley had adopted him, Pete had had to fight and scheme
and dodge his way through life. He had asked no favors and expected
none. His pop had stood by him in his own deepest trouble, and he
would now stand by his pop. That he was doing anything especially
worthy did not occur to him. Partners always "stuck."

The horse, anxious to be home, took the long grade quickly, restrained
by Pete, who felt that it would be poor policy to tread too closely
upon the heels of the T-Bar-T men. That they intended mischief was now
only too evident. And Pete would have been disappointed had they not.
Although sophisticated beyond his years and used to the hazards of a
rough life, _this_ adventure thrilled him. Perhaps the men would set
fire to the outbuildings and the haystack, or even try to burn the
cabin. But they would have a sorry time getting to the cabin if his
pop were really there.

Up the dim, starlit trail he plodded, shivering and yet elate. As he
topped the rise he thought he could see the vague outlines of horses
and men, but he was not certain. That soft glo