rt inquired excitedly.

"Yes. Of course I may be wrong--that may not be the plans at all. But
I've got pretty good reasons for thinkin' I'm right. We sort of
suspected that the Shootin' Star was bein' used for illegal purposes,
but we never had a chance to prove it. The place was too well guarded,
and without a warrant you can't go on another's property. I knew we'd
not find anything if we did search the place, for the Chinks are only
landed at night, and shipped away the next morning; scattered all over
the country. They all look so much alike it's hard to tell 'em apart."

"So you never really saw Delton?" asked Nort.

"Nope--never have. He never came to town--whatever stuff he wanted he
sent his men in for."

"Told you!" Billee Dobb cried. "I knew he never saw the geezer! Just
like I said--nobody was allowed in here with a badge on."

"Right again," the Kid said with a grin. "Billee's the only one of
this gang that seems to know his stuff."

"Well, that's the plan, boys," stated Mr. Hawkins. "Are you with me?"

"You bet!"

"Bring on the smugglers!"

"Kid, here's your chance to find out what became of your shirt!"

"Wait!" the deputy held up his hand. "We can't go into this thing like
that, boys! It's too dangerous. Enough men have been killed now by
the smugglers, and I don't want to add to the list. I thought a long
time before I came over this morning, and I finally decided I'd take a
chance on you. When I met you first I knew you were dependable men.
Remember--this is no joke! We've got to be ready to take what comes!"

The faces of the boys sobered in an instant.

"I guess you'll find you weren't far wrong," Bud said quietly. "We've
been in a few tight squeezes before--I suppose you heard of Del Pinzo?"

"Certainly. He was captured and jailed a while ago. Don't know
whether he got out since or not."

"Well, we are the ones who put him there," Bud went on in a quiet tone.

"No! Why say,--I remember you now! I saw you bring him in! Well,
well! So that's the way of things! Boys, I'm sure glad I met you!
Between us we ought to make a go of this. So you captured Del Pinzo!
Now here's another job for you. What do you think of this idea?"

The boys leaned close as they prepared to hear the deputy's plan.

CHAPTER XIII

TRAPPED

For some minutes the boys listened to the details of the deputy's
scheme. It involved danger, there was no doubt of that, but it also
gave