ck your thumb, are you, Paul?"
questioned the younger brother, quickly.

"Not if we can do anything. But we are tied fast here,--we can't follow
on foot,--they knew that when they came to rob us."

"Have you any idea who the thieves can be?"

"Most likely a remnant of that old gang from Jordan Creek. I knew they
would spring up again, even after Sol Davids was lynched. Let us take a
look around, and see if we can't find some clew to their identity."

"If only Allen would come----"

"Fire off your gun. If he is in hearing that will hasten his movements."

Thus directed, Chet hastened outside, and running to the house, quickly
brought forth his double-barreled shotgun. Two reports rent the air a
second later, and then the youth returned with the still smoking firearm
to the barn.

"Have you found anything?" he asked.

"Here is a strap that doesn't belong to our outfit," replied Paul. "But
it's only a common affair that might belong to any one."

"And here is a silver cross!" cried Chet, as he sprang forward to pick
up the object.

The article which Chet had found embedded in the dirt flooring of the
barn was really of silver, but so unpolished that it did not shine. It
was not over an inch in length and height, with a round hole directly in
the center. At the four corners of the cross were the letters D A F G.

"What do you make of it?" asked Paul, impatiently, as he bent over to
examine the object as it lay in his younger brother's palm.

"Nothing. It's a silver cross with letters on it; that's all. I never
saw one like it before."

"Is there no name on the back?"

Quickly the cross was turned over. There, dug into the metal, as if with
a jackknife, were the letters S. M.

"S. M.," said Chet, slowly. "Who can they stand for?"

"Sam somebody, I suppose," replied Paul. "I reckon there are a good many
folks in Idaho with the initials S. M."

"That is true, too, but it's not likely many of them are mean enough to
turn horse thieves."

Chet surveyed the cross for a few seconds longer. Then he rammed it into
his pocket and went on with the search, and Paul followed suit.

But their further efforts remained unrewarded. Not another thing of
value was brought to light.

They were on the point of giving up when a clatter of hoofs was heard
outside on the rocks leading from the trail back to the willows and
cottonwoods.

"There is Allen now!" cried Paul, joyfully. "Hi, Allen! This way,
quick!" he added, e