ll turned
ugly--well--we could do as we thought fit."

"I see. He told you he wouldn't leave?"

"Yes."

"He has no right to stay there, has he?"

"None at all. He rented the ranch from the man who formerly owned it,
but his lease was up a month ago. Dad bought the place free and clear.
We were to manage it for him, and take charge of the sheep when they
came in. I believe they are to be driven over in about two weeks."

"In about two weeks? Well, boys, I can't exactly say I'm surprised at
your story. I don't mind sayin' we've been puzzled at the actions of
this 'J. D.'--James Delton, I think his name is--for some time now.
When he first came he did have some sheep--not many, and he sold them a
month after he took the ranch. Since then it's been empty, though, as
he says, he's got a number of hands on the place. They keep it in good
shape, as you may have noticed. But what his business is nobody seems
to know. Of course out here a man doesn't go pryin' into other
people's affairs unless he's fairly certain there's something wrong.
I'll go to Shooting Star with you!"

Taking his belt and pistol holster from a hanger, the deputy led the
way from the office. Mounted once more, the party swung away toward
the Shooting Star ranch. Nort looked over at the Kid.

"Why that smile, Kid?" he asked.

"Was I smilin'? I didn't know it. Say, Nort, looks as though we might
hand ourselves somethin' of a time before we finish with this 'J. D.'
feller."

"And you're kind of hopin' we do, hey Kid? The last time I saw you
smile like that was just before we had that fight with the Del Pinzo
gang. Hope you don't expect another ruckus out here, as bad as that
one."

"And if we did, I suppose you'd run away and hide your head," laughed
the Kid derisively. "Yes you would not! You'd be in the thick of it
with the rest of us."

"Perhaps," admitted Nort with a grin. "However, I really don't think
we'll have any trouble. From Bud's description of Delton he's sort of
a weak-kneed type. We'll just have to tell him what's what, and I'm
sure he'll back down."

"Can't tell," the Kid averred. "Those Dudes have sometimes got a mean
lot of fight in them."

Up ahead Joe Hawkins and Bud were talking in low tones. Finally Bud
turned about and called to the rest:

"Close up a minute, fellows. Mr. Hawkins has something to say before
we reach the ranch."

"It's just this," began the deputy, when they had gathered around