ent, whether young or old, male or
female--carried out his long cherished plans for additional
water-supply, for alfalfa planting, for registered bulls and high-grade
cows. Now that there was money in sight the success of the ranch was
assured. He studied hard, he got in touch with the state experimental
developments, he subscribed for magazines that told of cattle breeding,
he sent soils for analysis and young Ed, coming home from his first
term, found, somewhat to his chagrin, that Sandy was far ahead of him in
both the theory and practise of ranching.

The days multiplied into weeks and the weeks into months. Sandy received
one letter from Brandon that seemed to presage another visit across the
line. It was terse, characteristic of the man.

MY DEAR BOURKE:

We are still losing three-and four-year-olds, and the
evidence points plainly to their drifting over toward
Plimsoll. We have traced up some of the links leading from
this end. To be quite frank, the authorities of your own
county do not seem over-disposed to bother in the matter, and
we are taking things in our own hands. We have set a trap for
Jim Plimsoll and have hopes he will walk into it if he is the
guilty party.

If it springs and catches him you'll probably see us over
your way again--after we have concluded our business with J.
P. There are some of us old-timers--and I believe you are of
our way of thinking or I would not write asking you to do
this favor for me--who look at horse-stealing just as it used
to be looked at--and dealt with. To be plain, we have been
losing a lot of valuable animals and we are all considerably
"riled."

The favor I want of you is to tip me off if Plimsoll appears
about to leave the country. We have had a tip that he expects
to do so before long. If you get wind of this a wire would be
much appreciated by me.

Sincerely yours,
W. J. BRANDON.

Have been hearing fine things about the way things are being
run along modern lines on the Three Star. More power to you.
Good stock _always_ pays.

Sandy filed the letter. There was a room in the ranch-house that was now
fitted up as an office, known to the riders of the Three Star as the
"Old Man's Room." Sandy had even contemplated a typewriter, but given it
up for the time being after talking it over.

"I don't believe I c'ud ever learn