"We'll put that question in the discard. That paper was signed by Luck to-day. Where was he when you got it from him?" "Sure it was signed to-day? Couldn't it have been ante-dated?" "You know better than I do. When was it signed?" Fendrick laughed. He was watching the noted officer of rangers with narrowed wary eyes. "On advice of counsel I decline to answer." "Sorry, Cass. That leaves me only one thing to do. You're under arrest." "For what?" demanded the sheepman sharply. "For abducting Luck Cullison and holding him prisoner without his consent." Lazily Cass drawled a question. "Are you right sure Cullison can't be found?" "What do you mean?" "Are you right sure he ain't at home attending to his business?" "Has he come back?" "Maybe so. I'm not Luck Cullison's keeper." Bucky thought he understood. In return for the relinquishment Cullison had been released. Knowing Luck as he did, it was hard for him to see how pressure enough had been brought to bear to move him. "May I use your 'phone?" he asked. "Help yourself." Fendrick pretended to have lost interest. He returned to his newspaper, but his ears were alert to catch what went on over the wires. It was always possible that Cullison might play him false and break the agreement. Cass did not expect this, for the owner of the Circle C was a man whose word was better than most men's bond. But the agreement had been forced upon him through a trick. How far he might feel this justified him in ignoring it the sheepman did not know. O'Connor got the Circle C on long distance. It was the clear contralto of a woman that answered his "Hello!" "Is this Miss Cullison?" he asked. Almost at once he added: "O'Connor of the rangers is speaking. I've heard your father is home again. Is that true?" An interval followed during which the ranger officer was put into the role of a listener. His occasional "Yes----Yes----Yes" punctuated the rapid murmur that reached Fendrick. Presently Bucky asked a question. "On his way to town now?" Again the rapid murmur. "I'll attend to that, Miss Cullison. I am in Fendrick's room now. Make your mind easy." Bucky hung up and turned to the sheepman. The latter showed him a face of derision. He had gathered one thing that disquieted him, but he did not intend to let O'Connor know it. "Well?" he jeered. "Find friend Cullison in tolerable health?" "I've been talking with his daughter." "I judged as much. Miss Spitfire well?" "Miss Cullison didn't mention her health. We were concerned about yours." "Yes?" "Cullison is headed for town and his daughter is afraid he is on the warpath against you." "You don't say." "She wanted me to get you out of her father's way until he has cooled down." "Very kind of her." "She's right, too. You and Luck mustn't meet yet. Get out of here and hunt cover in the hills for a few days. You know why better than I do." "How can I when I'm under arrest?" Fendrick mocked.