"You can't scare me by any talk like that," Dave said, coolly. "You know I'm a nobody, and I can't be disgraced like any one who bears the name of Molick!" and he laughed mockingly, though there was a sore spot in his heart. After all it is small satisfaction to be a "nobody." Dave released his hold on the bridle of Len's horse, and urged his own steed back toward Bar U ranch. "You just wait! I'll fix you for this," Len threatened. "I'm a good waiter," Dave told him. Then, speaking to Crow, he galloped off through the gathering darkness. On reaching the ranch Dave found that Mr. Bellmore was very comfortable. Mr. Carson had applied rough and ready, but effective treatment to the injured ankle, and the two men were deep in a talk of irrigation matters when Dave entered the room. "Back again, son?" remarked Mr. Carson, and there was no hesitancy in his endearing tone. For of course he had known, all along, that Dave was not his son, though, as he had said, he so loved and so regarded him. "Yes--Dad, back. Perkins sent word about that bunch he was speaking of," and he delivered the message left with Pocus Pete. "Well, Dave, you have done a good day's work since morning," commented Mr. Carson. "You saved that valuable bunch of special cattle, and you bring me as a guest a man, who, I think, can do me a lot of good." "I'm glad to hear it, Dad!" "Yes, your father and I have been talking irrigation, Dave," said Mr. Bellmore, who had taken a sudden liking to the young cowboy. And to himself Dave could not but admit that the more he saw of Mr. Bellmore the better he liked him. "We think we can get together on this irrigation project," the Chicago man went on. "Of course that is if we can deal with Molick," suggested the ranchman. "Oh, yes, it depends a great deal on Molick," Mr. Bellmore admitted. "I wish it didn't," Dave said. "Why, son?" asked Mr. Carson. Then Dave told his story, which was received with rather ominous shakes of the head on the part of Mr. Carson. "Well," said the owner of Bar U ranch, when Dave had finished, "there's no two ways about it! I wish it hadn't happened, and I think as you do, Dave, that Molick, or some of his friends, had a hand in it. However, that isn't proof, and we can't move until we get better evidence than just a saw. "Another thing I'm sorry for--this may make more bad feeling between Mr. Molick and myself. There's not much love lost between us as it is," he went on, "and this will only add to his feeling." "I'm sorry, Dad," Dave began. "Oh, it isn't your fault," said Mr. Carson, quickly. "You acted as you thought best, and I haven't a word of fault to find. It just had to be so, I reckon. But I'll know how to act--that's one thing sure. I'll be on my guard from now on." "It will be best so," said Mr. Bellmore. A little later Pocus Pete and one of the cowboys returned, to report that the fence had been repaired.