sed out on
account of some deviltry. But I'd better begin at the beginning."

"'Twould seem the most sensible way," said Old Billee. "In the first
place what's your name?"

"Sam Tarbell," was the answer.

In an instant Bud, Dick and Nort exchanged glances. Like a flash came
to them the memory of the warning paper, signed with the initials S.T.
They would fit this man's name--Sam Tarbell.

But if Billee, Snake and Yellin' Kid thought of this coincidence they
did not remark upon it.

"Sam Tarbell; eh?" murmured Billee. "I used to know a feller of that
name once. Only he was Bill Tarbell. I don't reckon he could 'a' been
your brother; could he?"

Sam Tarbell shook his head.

"I never had a brother," he answered. "Well, as I was saying, I been
acting as foreman for Mr. Barter a few days back, and when he sold out
I agreed to stay and deliver the ranch to the new owners."

"What became of Tim Dolan, who was foreman, and all the other
punchers?" asked Snake. "Takes more'n a foreman, which you say you are
now, to run a shebang like this. What happened to them?"

"Well," said Sam slowly, "some died and the rest, including Dolan, lit
out and that left me. Dolan was foreman, like you said, but he
vamoosed in a hurry and I almost cashed in when----"

He suddenly interrupted his story to gaze off across the level plain.
The others, following his glance, saw riding along an old man on a
somewhat ancient steed. He was an old man with a white beard and
flowing, white locks, and as he glimpsed him Sam exclaimed:

"There's the old man now!"

CHAPTER VIII

THE ROUND-UP

Sam Tarbell suddenly arose from the bench where he had been sitting.
But if he had any intention of starting after the old man on the
distant horse his resolution was better than his performance. For he
had to sink weakly back to his seat, and his face, that had assumed its
natural color after the ammonia, now went white again.

"Take it easy!" advised Old Billee in soothing tones.

"Guess I'll have to," and Sam gratefully accepted a dipper of water
that Nort handed him, getting the fluid from a pail that sat on a shelf
outside the bunkhouse.

"Do you want one of us to chase after that old man?" asked Bud, while
Dick inquired:

"Did he have anything to do with knocking you out?"

"No, to both questions, boys," responded Sam. "You can chase that old
man for all of me, but I don't think you'll catch him. He's as
slippery as an e