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"I don't know that I have ever seen a halter like that before," mused Roger, as he took the bit of halter from Dave, and then passed it to Phil. "I have," answered Dave. "So have I!" cried the shipowner's son. "Link Merwell's horse had one on, the day we met on the trail!" "Just what I was going to say," added Dave. "I noticed it particularly."
"Why er what place is this?" stammered the youth, and as he asked the question Dave came up behind him. "This is the Triple X Ranch," was the man's answer. "What! Mr. Merwell's place?" stammered Phil. "That's it. Want to see him? Why, say, you're all out of wind, anything wrong?" "I I didn't know this was the Merwell place," murmured Phil. He knew not what else to say, he was so taken back.
If you'll come back with me I'll give you the gold piece in exchange for one cent." "There you are, Merwell!" cried Dave. "Now you can see how you were mistaken in this boy." Link Merwell's face was a study. He felt his humiliation keenly, and it is safe to say he would rather have lost his five dollars than have been shown up in the wrong.
Man and boy were in the best of spirits, and both made rapid time over the dusty roads. "Maybe you'll meet a friend of yours at the station when the train comes in," said Todd. "A friend? Who?" asked Dave. "That Merwell boy. Yates heard he was coming to-day. One of the cowboys from Merwell's ranch said so." "I don't know that I care to meet him," answered Dave. "He is no friend of mine."
"The horse I used was a dandy, and so was that Belle had and yours was a good one, too." "What do you suppose those horse-thieves will do with them?" "Drive them a long distance, hide them for a while, and then, when they get the chance, sell them. Of course they don't expect to get full value for them, but they'll get a neat sum." "You don't suppose this can be a trick of Link Merwell's?"
"This must be Link Merwell's work!" cried Dave. "Perhaps he met Blower " "And impersonated Roger," finished Phil. "Would he do that?" questioned the senator's son. "Would he dare?" "He would, if he thought he could get away with the trick," replied Dave. He turned to Mrs. Carmody. "Would you mind letting us see the letter Mr. Blower sent you?" "Sure. I'll get it.
If he tries any of his games, he'll get the worst of it just as he got the worst of it at Oak Hall." But though Dave spoke thus bravely, he was much disturbed himself. He could read human nature pretty closely, and that look in Merwell's face had showed him that the fellow meant to do harm at the first opportunity that was afforded.
Then, as quick as lightning, he sprang forward, knocked aside Merwell's guard, and planted a telling blow on the bully's left eye. "As you are so anxious to fight, take that!" cried Dave, and before the other could recover he landed a second blow on Merwell's chin. This caused the bully to stagger against Hank Snogger, who kept him from falling completely.
"We ought surely to have the time of our lives," said the shipowner's son. "Just think of riding like the wind on some of those broncos!" "Or getting flung heels over head from a bronco's back," added Roger. "I rather think we'll have to be careful at first." "One thing I don't like about this trip," said Dave. "The fact that Link Merwell's father owns the next ranch to the Star?" "Exactly."
I got out in a hurry." Job Haskers gave a deep sigh and wiped the perspiration from his forehead. "Did did they follow you?" asked Link Merwell, nervously. "I don't think so I didn't give them time. Oh, this is too bad! I expected to get a lot of money from that old man," and Job Haskers shook his head, sadly. "I told you it wasn't safe to stay around here," was Merwell's comment.
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