ivin' up to its name. Let's have the yarn, boys."

Bud and his cousins explained what they had discovered and the older
cowboys looked anxious. Dr. Taylor listened attentively.

"I don't believe old Tosh had any hand in it," he said. "He bears the
name of being a harmless crank, always imagining every one is going to
die who doesn't take his herb medicine."

"I wonder if you could tell what those cows died of?" asked Bud.

"I could take a look at 'em," said the medical man, "but unless signs
of the poison--granting that it was poison--were very plain, I could
not say what kind was used. It would require an autopsy and a chemical
analysis. I'm not equipped for such work."

"Well, would you mind having a look at the bodies?" asked Bud. "I know
it isn't in your line----"

"Oh, I don't mind," said Dr. Taylor, good-naturedly. "Anything to
oblige. I'll run out and go over the matter with you to-morrow. I've
got to get back to town now. Not that my practice is so large," and he
laughed, "but I've got to look after it. Your Chink cook will be all
right in a little while," and he hurried off in his flivver, promising
to return next day.

"How'd Fah Moo get the Elixer?" asked Bud when matters had somewhat
quieted down and the Celestial was busy in the kitchen.

"Oh, I reckon he was snoopin' around and found where I hid the stuff in
the cupboard," Billee answered. "If he's going to be our regular
kitchen canary, Bud, I'll have to keep things better hid."

"I guess he's had his lesson," said young Merkel. "And I guess he'll
be our permanent pot wrestler from now on. I left word for a man in
Los Pompan to send me the first one he could get hold of, and Fah Moo
is the result."

"And I'm glad he's here!" voiced Dick. "I'm sick and tired of giving
the dishes their bath." The others felt the same about it, so Fah Moo
became a fixture at Dot and Dash.

Billee and the others were surprised at the news the boys brought back
from their little expedition. The finding of the cave was not
considered remarkable, as Billee said there were many such about the
neighborhood.

"And it wasn't strange that old Tosh, if that's his name, skipped out
when he saw you," went on the veteran puncher. "Likely he thought you
were coming to steal his Elixer secrets. So I guess we don't need to
worry about him."

"Probably not," assented Bud and his cousins. "But," added Mr.
Merkel's son, "it will be necessary to give some att