“I don’t know either. You’ll have to trust to luck.” “I’d rather trust to anything else in the world. Luck never served me a good turn yet.” “You said your father discharged the old cook because you asked him, didn’t you? Very well; ask him to discharge Philip. You had better get him away from here as soon as you can. I judge from what you say, that he had made up his mind to have that safe in your father’s office, and the first thing you know he’ll bring men enough here to take it. He’s not a safe person to have about.” Ned was very well aware of that fact, but still he could see no way of getting rid of him without rendering himself liable to exposure, and neither could Gus. As often as they discussed the matter, they arrived at this conclusion: that Philip was there in the rancho; that he meant to stay there; and that Ned could not have him discharged without getting himself into serious trouble. One would suppose, that while this state of affairs continued, there would be no such thing as pleasure for Ned. He never did see a moment’s peace while he was awake, but those around him did not know it. He seemed to be enjoying himself to the fullest extent. On the third day, Gus began to feel a little more like himself, and when Ned proposed a short gallop to get up an appetite for dinner, the visitor did not object. The first thing was to select a gentle horse for his use; for the one he had ridden from Palos was a borrowed animal, and must be returned in good order, at the very first opportunity. Ned made the selection for him, and then went with him into the store-room to pick out a saddle and bridle. As they came out into the hall, a horseman drew up beside the porch long enough to throw a letter at them, after which he turned about and galloped back in the direction from which he had come. This was the only way in which the neighboring ranchemen and farmers would have anything to do with Uncle John. They inquired for his mail when they went to Palos, and brought it to him, if there chanced to be any, but they did it simply as an act of courtesy, just as they had banded together and pursued the raiders in the hope of recovering the stock they had stolen from him. They did not ask Uncle John to join them in the pursuit, and when they brought him his mail they never visited with him or stopped to hold conversation, as they did with their other neighbors. Gus picked up the letter and handed it to Ned, who, after glancing at the name on the envelope passed it back to his companion. The letter was addressed to him in care of Uncle John. The visitor’s face grew red and pale by turns, as he looked at his father’s well-known writing. “Sam Holmes has blowed the whole business!” he exclaimed, as soon as he could speak. “Well, you expected it, didn’t you?” returned Ned. “What do you care for Sam Holmes now? You are out of his reach and your father’s too. Why don’t you read the letter?”