ad perfected their plans for bringing
the dishonest guardian to book.

"But your boys know it, John, and so do the prisoners," asserted one of
these friends.

"My boys won't talk about it," declared the ranchman. "I'll see to that.
If the prisoners do, you all can say the story is absurd, probably
another of their plots to steal another ranch."

This decided, the grizzled plainsman summoned his cowboys, explained the
situation briefly, and offered them a year's wages for their silence,
which they promised when Bob added his entreaties.

But to prevent any possible miscarriage of their plans, Bob wrote his
discoveries to Mr. Nichols, mailing the letter before he left Red Top.
These details attended to, Ford borrowed a horse for Bob, and they set
out for the home ranch, which they reached in due course.

Leaving Merry Dick on Bob's station, Ford and Bob rode on to Fairfax,
where they held a long consultation with the station agent, at which it
was decided that Bob and the ranchman should both go on to New York to
obtain restitution from Len Dardus. And, with much hurrying, they
prepared to leave Fairfax the next night.

Thomas asked and obtained permission from Mr. Nichols for the east-bound
limited to stop at the way-station, and when Higgins and the others saw
the ranchman and Bob on the platform, they were consumed with curiosity.

"Kidnappin' John?" asked Higgins of Bob.

But no satisfaction did he receive, the boy replying:

"My sentiments about answering questions haven't changed since the first
morning we met, Mr. Higgins."

And while the others were laughing at their crony's discomfiture, the
train arrived and the two travelers boarded it, with the well wishes of
the agent ringing in their ears.

At Kansas City Mr. Nichols joined them, saying he had decided to go on
to New York, where they would meet Mr. Perkins, both being determined to
bring Bob into his own.

A happy party they made, Bob recounting his experiences, Ford adding his
dry comments, and Mr. Nichols enjoying the boy's development and
manliness.

As they were rehearsing the story for the twentieth time, Mr. Nichols
asked:

"Have you learned, Bob, who the man with the scar is?"

"What sort of a scar?" demanded the ranchman, before the boy could
answer. And as Bob described it, he exclaimed:

"That's Knuckles, your father's old foreman!"

"Good. I'll find him and take him back with me," returned Bob; "that is,
if things come out ri