aw anything of him?"

"Well now, that's mighty strange," drawled the Kid. "It so happens
that I _did_ see your man--at least I'll take odds that he was the one
you're after. This afternoon I was trapin' around for that water hole
over yonder about three miles--you know the one," and the Kid told of
his adventure with the "crazy Chink."

"That's him, for all the money in the world!" the deputy exclaimed.
"Lookin' for a 'chock gee' was he? I'll chock gee him if I catch him."

"Say, what's all this about a 'chock gee'?" Nort wanted to know.

"Well, it's a government immigration office paper every Chink in this
country is supposed to have, showin' they're here legitimately. Those
that haven't got 'em try to get one from another Chink, and there's
unlawful trading goin' on all the time."

"Like a passport, eh?" Billee Dobb suggested.

"Something like that. Where you men bound for--if you don't mind me
askin'?"

"To a ranch just outside of Roaring River," spoke up Bud. "My father,
over at Diamond X, bought it, and we're going to take charge."

"Your father Mr. Merkel?" Joe Hawkins asked suddenly, with new interest.

"Yes--do you know him?"

"Not exactly. But I know of him. When I heard that the Shootin' Star
was changin' hands I wrote to Mack Caffery, the boy on the job over at
Candelaria, askin' him to get in touch with the new owner. That's how
I got the name Merkel. Did your dad hear from him, do you know?"

"Yes, he did. So that's what Dad meant when he said there might be
trouble, eh? Well--we're ready for whatever comes. What do you say,
boys?"

"Right!" the others chorused.

"Say, mister, what was that there you said about two thousand dollars?"
Billee Dobb broke in.

"There's two thousand dollars' reward, offered by the government, for
the capture, dead or alive, of the head of the Chink smugglers," the
deputy said impressively.

"Two thousand bucks! Say, boys, with that you could buy yourself a new
herd of cattle, to make up somewhat for the bunch you lost!" cried
Yellin' Kid.

"We sure could--and then some," Bud agreed. "But I guess there's not
much chance of us collecting the reward. We'll be busy enough at the
ranch without trying to round up any smugglers. Say, Mr.--what did you
say your name was?"

"Hawkins--Joe Hawkins."

"Well, how about bunking with us to-night? We can all start out in the
morning together, and perhaps we'll come across your Chinese friend.
It's prett