el. As for his having anything to do with me being
knocked out in such a queer way, I can't honestly say he had anything
to do with it. I just happened to see him 'fore my horse crumpled
under me, and he was riding away when I started to stagger back here as
best I could. I hollered at him to give me a lift, but either he
didn't hear me or didn't want to. It was just a coincidence that he
happened along while I was telling you my story."

Wonderingly the outfit from Diamond X watched the old man slowly riding
into the foothills, amid the woods of which he was soon lost to view.
And the same thought came to all of them--the memory of the old man who
had aroused Dick that night, when, next morning, the mysterious warning
was found.

"Do you know that old man's name?" asked Bud.

Sam Tarbell shook his head.

"He's a stranger to me," he answered. "But I've seen him around off
and on what little time I been here. I'm beginning to wish I'd never
taken the job of puncher or foreman here at Dot and Dash. I've had
nothing but bad luck from the start."

"You mean being knocked out like you was dead?" asked Yellin' Kid who,
now that there was no mourning to be done, had switched back to his
loud tones.

"Lots of things besides that," answered Sam. "I lost one good gun,
lamed a good pony and got shook up bad when my other horse, the one
that died under me, stepped into a prairie dog's hole and throwed me.
Nothing but bad luck. I'm through!"

"Don't blame you for wanting to quit," remarked Bud. "But I hope
you'll stay a little longer. As I said you're not fit to travel
and----"

"You're right there!" interrupted Sam. "I'm as weak as a new-born
calf. But after I get my strength I'm going to vamoose. This ranch is
no place for a healthy man--or a sick one either, if you come to that.
But I'll tell you what I started to, and give you all the help I can in
rounding things up here. Then you can decide for yourselves whether
it's worth your while."

"This is Death Valley all right; ain't it?" asked Billee Dobb.

"You said it, stranger! There's been a lot of deaths here, so I been
told. I never would have come if I had known what I know now."

"Just what do you know?" asked Dick.

"Do you know what caused the deaths?" Bud inquired.

"No, I can't say I do," was the somewhat hesitant answer. "And that's
the mysterious part of it. Only I know I came mighty near passing out
and I don't want to do it again."