Harry stayed long enough to help wash the dishes; then, in spite of the family's vigorous remonstrances, she drove over to the ranch. The heat of the day came on before she reached home, and she was glad that she had started early. Although there was not a great deal for her to do on the homestead, she did not finish her various tasks until noon. Hot and hungry, she went up to the tent to get herself some luncheon and to look for the jar of salve. She had just started to build a fire when she heard a horse's tread outside, and thinking that it was Rob, flew to the doorway. But it was a stranger that faced her--a big man, with keen, friendly eyes and a low, drawling voice. "Robert Holliday live here?" he asked. "Yes," Harry answered, "this is his homestead, but he's not here now. I'm his sister. Is there any message you wish to leave?" "Pleased to meet you; Miss Holliday. I'm the sheriff of Lincoln County--Mason is my name. I've got a bunch of horses down in Shoshone that I understand Mr. Holliday can tell me something about. Do you know when he'll be home?" "No, I don't. To tell you the truth, he's over in Hailey now, in jail, on a false charge of having stolen one of those horses." "A false charge?" The sheriff looked at her searchingly. "Yes." Harry colored under his keen inspection. "Chris Garnett, the deputy sheriff for this county, found my brother riding a horse that Garnett claimed as his. As Rob refused to tell him where he got it, Garnett took him to jail. But he admits now that he doesn't think Rob stole his horse. Rob could come home if he wanted to, but he's waiting over there to see Judge Raeburn and explain the whole matter to him." "H'm! Well, maybe you can tell me where your brother got that horse." "No, I can't. It was in the bunch of colts that a fellow named Jones brought in here, but I don't know where they came from." "What were they doing here?" "The colts? Why, Jones and Rob had some sort of a partnership in them. They broke them together, and Jones drove them out and sold them, I guess, for he had taken more than half of them when he disappeared about a week ago. We haven't any idea where he went, or whether he came up and took the rest of the horses without telling Rob." "I see. And Garnett? Where's he at?" "Gone to find Jones and see what he can get out of him." Mason laughed. "Well, I'll be going on. You say your brother is staying over in Hailey to talk things over with Judge Raeburn? Court opens in Hailey to-day; so your brother ought to get back here to-morrow. I'm on my way to Soldier and I'll stop over here on my way back--in a couple of days or so." "I wonder if you'll do me a favor?" Harry exclaimed, as Mason turned his horse. "Will you leave a little package at the Robinsons' for me? It's some salve for Mrs. Robinson's hand." "Sure I will. I haven't seen the family for quite some time."