to find his stray-man
still seated in the chair, his head bowed in his hands. He did not
look up as the manager entered, and the latter stepped over to him and
laid a friendly hand on his shoulder.

"I'm thankin' you for what you've done for me," he said.

Ferguson rose, leaning one hand on the back of the chair upon which he
had been sitting. The manager saw that deep lines had come into his
face; that his eyes--always steady before--were restless and gleaming
with an expression which seemed unfathomable. But he said nothing
until the manager had seated himself beside the desk. Then he took a
step and stood looking into Stafford's upturned face.

"I reckon I've done what I came here to do," he said grimly. "I'm
takin' my time now."

Stafford's face showed a sudden disappointment.

"Shucks!" he returned, unable to keep the regret from his voice.
"Ain't things suited you here?"

The stray-man grinned with straight lips. He could not let the manager
know his secret. "Things have suited me mighty well," he declared.
"I'm thankin' you for havin' made things pleasant for me while I've
been here. But I've done what I contracted to do an' there ain't
anything more to keep me here. If you'll give me my time I'll be
goin'."

Stafford looked up at him with a sly, significant smile. "Why," he
said, "Leviatt told me that you'd found somethin' real interestin' over
on Bear Flat. Now, I shouldn't think you'd want to run away from her!"

The stray-man's lips whitened a little. "I don't think Mary Radford is
worryin' about me," he said steadily.

"Well, now," returned Stafford, serious again; "then I reckon Leviatt
had it wrong."

"I expect he had it wrong," answered the stray-man shortly.

But Stafford did not yield. He had determined to keep the stray-man at
the Two Diamond and there were other arguments that he had not yet
advanced which might cause him to stay. He looked up again, his face
wearing a thoughtful expression.

"I reckon you remember our contract?" he questioned.

The stray-man nodded. "I was to find out who was stealin' your
cattle," he said.

Stafford smiled slightly. "Correct!" he returned. "You've showed me
two thieves. But a while ago I heard you say that there was two more.
Our contract ain't fulfilled until you show me them too. You reckon?"

The stray-man drew a deep, resigned breath. "I expect that's right,"
he admitted. "But I've told you where you can find them. All y