The evening world., 1911-12-23

con stood, his syss rowing over the
sroup. Tucson was not there. Ne
went back into the b~unkhouse and
walked casually about. taking swift
glances at the hunks where the men
still slept. Then he returned to the
door. satisfied that Tucson. had not
When ne reached the door again no
found that the men Of the group had
discovered the saddle. One Of them
was saying something about IL. THAT
Amt just the way I take care Of my
saddle" he was telling the otAers;
leavin' her out nights"
II never knowed Rope to ~ that
careless before" said another.
Ferguson returned to the clubhouse
and ate breakfast. After the meal was
tard, swung into the saddle ana rode
down to the ranchhouse door. He
found stafford in the office. The latter
greeted the stray-man with . smile.
"Somsthin' doin'T' he questioned.
you might call II that" returned
Ferguson. He went inside ana seated
himself near staford's desk.
i've come in to tell o that saw
some rustlers workin' IN the herd yes.
, terday," he said.
STAFFORD sat suddenly erect. his EYES
lighting interrogatvely.
1T wasn't Ben RAdford," continued
Ferguson. answering the look. You'd
, be surprised II I told you. But I amt
teilin'-now. I'm waitin' 20 zee II some
one else does. But I'm tellln' you this:
They got Rope Jones'"
staYord's face REDEEMED with anger.
They got Rope. you sayf" he de-
manded. why. wheref"-
Back Of the ridge about hfteen miles
up the crick.' returned Ferguson. Il
was rldin' along the edge Of the plateau
an I saw a man down there shoot an.
other. got Town as soon a. I could
an found Rope. There wasn't nothin'
I could do. SO I planted hdm whore I
found him an brought his horse baOk.
There was two rustlers there. But only
one done the shootin'. ! got the name
OF one"
Stafford cursed. I'm wantin' to knew
who It was!" he demanded. 'Tu make
| him-lli'-
You're carryin' on awful" observed
Ferguson dryly. But you ain't doin'
any good" He leaned closer to stat
ford. I'm quittin' my Job right now"
he said.
so you're quittin'.' Stafford snesrsd.
scared plum because you seen q man
put out Of business! reckon Leviatt
wasn't far wrong when he said
II wouldn't say q lot" interrupted
Ferguson coldly. II amt admittin' that
I'm any scared. An I amt CARA .
heap because Leviatt's been gassin' to
you But I'm quittin' the job you give
me. Ben Radford amt the man WHO'S
been rustiln' your cattle. It's soms one
else. I'm askin' you to hire me to md
out whoever It 10. I'm wantin' a free
hand. I don't want any one askin' me
any questions. I dom want any one
| orderin' me around. BUT II you want
the men who are rustlln' your cattle.
I'm oferin' to do the job. Do /
get IT."
You're keepin' right on-workin' Tor
the Two Diamond" returned Stafford.
But I'd like to get hold Of The mar
who got Rope" ,.
Ferguson smiled grimly. THAT manrl
be gittin' his some day." he declared.
rising. I'm keepin' him for myself.
Mebbe I won't shoot him. l reckon
Rope'd be some ticxied II hs'd know
that the man who shot him could set
a chance to think 1t over while some
mar was stringing him up. You Amt
sayln' anything about anything"
He turned and went out. Five minutes
later stafford saw him riding slowly TO-
ward the river.
Ito Be C~ontinued.)