ere set in front of their wagons, under guard,
and the entire outfit was soon making its return trip to Vernock.

"Cheer up, Mack!" shouted Jim, by way of heartening.

"Tell me," groaned McLean, "what is under the alfalfa?"

"Just what I told you already, Mack,--good honest flour and feed in
one hundred pound sacks, which will help to swell the credit side of
your next balance sheet."

"The Lord be thankit!" he groaned. "But I wish one of them had been
loaded up with King George's Special."

Jim shot out his tongue.

"Me too!" he answered pawkily.

They had not got very far on their journey, when a lone horseman came
dashing toward them over the hill from the direction of Vernock.

It was Chief Palmer. His horse was in a lather and the Chief looked as
if he had ridden hard and had been out all night to boot. He wore a
crestfallen expression when he drew up alongside.

"Hullo!" he cried, with an assumption of gaiety. "Holding up the quiet
farmer on the public highway? Captured the gang, eh?"

Immensely proud of himself and his achievement, Howden jumped down,
intending to give his chief a full account of the capture, but Palmer
seemed in no mood to listen, and told him he had better keep his story
for later on, and look after his prisoners.

"You don't seem particularly gay over it, Chief!" commented Jim.

"Why should I?" he replied. "I've ridden for two hours, hoping to be
in time for the scrap, and you fellows beat me to it."

The journey townward continued.

When nearing their destination, they were joined by two more horsemen,
Brenchfield--his left foot heavily bound round the ankle--and one of
his white ranch hands. The Mayor was surly as usual and seemed in
desperation to get in touch with Chief Palmer, who obligingly dropped
behind with him. As they brought up the rear, they indulged in a very
earnest conversation.

When the wagons were safely harboured in the Police Yard and the
thieves safely jailed under lock and key, the Chief, as if to make
amends for his previous surliness, shook hands all round and
congratulated the men on their coup.

"This will help to make an interesting calendar for the next Assizes,
boys. I'll be after all of you for witnesses, so don't get on the
rampage anywhere in between times."

"I guess, Morrison, old chap," broke in Brenchfield, "this will end
the flour and feed racket for some time to come. We fellows will have
a chance to make a little profit out of our bu