wered with a smile. "When I tell you what
did happen you'll think I have a good right to be worn out. First,
though, is there any chuck left?"

"What--they didn't even feed you? Well now, I thought you'd had a
chicken dinner. Sure, Bud, come on in, an' we'll get Mex on the job."

The best they could do in the culinary line on short notice was beans,
but Bud filled up mightily on them. When the edge had been taken off
his hunger he asked the Kid:

"Where's the rest of the bunch?"

"Town, most of 'em. Billee Dobb is at the back fixin' his saddle.
Nort and Dick went on into town again after a load of grub came, to see
if they could pick up that sheep-man Hawkins told us about, and to grab
me off a pony. Where were you, Bud?"

"Therein lies a tale," answered Bud, "and I don't mean maybe. Listen,
Kid, and try to control your well-known faculties for humor 'til I get
this off my chest."

In as few sentences as possible, Bud related to Yellin' Kid the events
of the morning. Contrary to his expectations, his story was taken as
it was told, seriously.

"Delton, hey? Didn't see my missin' bronc around, I suppose?"

"No, I didn't, Kid. Saw enough besides that. Well, what's the dope?
What do you think about it all?"

"I think you were pretty lucky, for one thing," declared the Kid.
"Another thing I think is that the plan they set for to-morrow
night--whatever it is, will be carried out."

"What makes you think that?"

"Didn't you say you heard someone talk about 'even if Jake doesn't know
about the Shooting Star'?"

"Yes--I did hear that."

"Well, that means they're going to take a chance on going through with
their plan, because they can't get word to the other side that this
place has changed hands. An' they won't stop because they caught you
listenin'."

"Say, you might be right at that, Kid. That's going some, though, to
push things like that, when they know their plan has been overheard.
Of course I didn't actually hear it all, but I heard enough to know it
has something to do with this ranch. And the time is to-morrow night."

"That will hurry up the deputy's idea, won't it? If things break
right, we might have a chance to collect that reward."

"Let's not think about that now. What we have to do is to get hold of
the rest and tell them what happened, and ask Mr. Hawkins if this will
change his plan. He's in town, isn't he?"

"Should be. Dick'll know--he rode in with him."

"Say, Kid