“I reckon I am. And just to pass the time you might tell me the real story of that hold-up while we ride.” “The real story?” “Well, I don't aim to doubt your word, but I reckon you forgot to tell some of it.” He turned on the other his gay smile. “For instance, seh, you ain't asking me to believe that you handed over your rig to Kinney so peaceful and that he went away and clean forgot to unload from you that gun you pack.” The eyes of the two met and looked into each other's as clear and straight as Texas sunshine. Slowly Neill's relaxed into a smile. “No, I won't ask you to believe that. I owe you something because you saved my life--” “Forget it,” commanded the lieutenant crisply. “And I can't do less than tell you the whole story.” He told it, yet not the whole of it either; for there was one detail he omitted completely. It had to do with the cause for existence of the little black-and-blue bruise under his right eye and the purple ridge that seamed his wrist. Nor with all his acuteness could Stephen Fraser guess that the one swelling had been made by a gold ring on the clenched fist of an angry girl held tight in Larry Neill's arms, the other by the lash of a horsewhip wielded by the same young woman. CHAPTER III -- A DISCOVERY The roan, having been much refreshed by a few hours on grass, proved to be a good traveller. The two men took a road-gait and held it steadily till they reached a telephone-line which stretched across the desert and joined two outposts of civilization. Steve strapped on his climbing spurs and went up a post lightly with his test outfit. In a few minutes he had Moreno on the wire and was in touch with one of his rangers. “Hello! This you, Ferguson? This is Fraser. No, Fraser--Lieutenant Fraser. Yes. How many of the boys can you get in touch with right away? Two? Good. I want you to cover the Arivaca cut-off. Kinney is headed that way in a rig. His sister is with him. She is not to be injured under any circumstances. Understand? Wire me at the Mal Pais mines to-morrow your news. By the way, Tom Long and some of the boys are headed down that way with notions of lynching Kinney. Dodge them if you can and rush your man up to the Mal Pais. Good-bye.” “Suppose they can't dodge them?” ventured Neill after Steve had rejoined him. “I reckon they can. If not--well, my rangers are good boys; I expect they won't give up a prisoner.” “I'm right glad to find you are going to the Mal Pais mines with me, lieutenant. I wasn't expecting company on the way.” “I'll bet a dollar Mex against two plunks gold that you're wondering whyfor I'm going.” Larry laughed. “You're right. I was wondering.”