him.
"The way I figure, there's no sense of us all going in to see Delton.
If we call on him like a delegation, he'll get het up, and be more
disagreeable than if we went about this thing quietly. Now Bud and I
will go in. You four stay around the corral, and Kid and Billee, while
you're waiting, you might take a ride around and size up the place.
See if you can discover traces of sheep bein' here in the last six
months, and whatever else you can find out. All right, boys, here we
are. Remember what I told you, Kid. Let's go, Bud!"

The two dismounted. Turning their horses over to Nort, they walked
toward the ranch house. The deputy stepped to the door and knocked.

"He took quite a while to answer when we were here before," Bud
suggested. "Better knock again."

The deputy did so.

"'Pears like he don't care for no visitors. Wonder if we can see
anything by lookin' in the window?"

"I'll have a try," volunteered Bud. Stepping to the side of the house
he peered in the casement.

"Too dark," he reported. "Can't see a thing!"

"Must be somebody around," Hawkins declared, as he knocked again, this
time more loudly.

Within all was quiet.

"Funny," he commented. Then suddenly he turned the doorknob. The door
swung open. After a quick glance the deputy walked in.

"Not a soul in sight!" he called after a minute. "The place is sure
deserted. Not only have they got no sheep on this place, but even the
men are gone now!"

CHAPTER VIII

CYCLONE

Following the deputy into the house, Bud looked about. The place
_felt_ vacant. It had an atmosphere of emptiness. The furniture in
the rooms had a tossed-about appearance, as though the occupants had
made a hurried exit. A cheap vase lay on the floor by the mantel,
broken. Rugs were kicked up.

"Well, what do you think of that?" Bud said slowly. "They're gone!
Vamoosed! And quick, too. Must have done some tall hustlin' to get
out in that short time. Wonder what the idea was? Do you think Delton
might be around back, or somewhere outside?"

"Better look, anyway." Hawkins stepped to the doorway and suddenly let
out a yell.

"Yo-o-o-o, Kid! Over here!"

"Yo-o!" came the answer. "Right there!" and Yellin' Kid, together with
Billee Dobb, rode to the ranch house.

"What'll you have!" the Kid called as he came up.

"Take a ride around the place and see if you can locate someone; will
you? The house is empty."

"Right! Billee, yo