"Dave, I was kidnapped last night," said the Doc, bluntly. Waiting for Dave to get his expression part way back to normal, he told the story. Dave's expression was under control again and bespoke surprise and sympathy, gradually assuming a stern, uncompromising aspect at the thought of such a grave breach of law and order. Two-Spot, after the first shock, did not dare to look around, for his grin was unholy and altogether too sincere for his health, should the victim of the unheard of atrocity see it. _Swish! Swish!_ went the broom; _he! he!_ went his throat, low and in time with the sweeping. Doc finished and hammered the bar with his fist. "It's a d--d outrage!" he declared, with heat. Dave nodded emphatically. "It shore is! Do you know who did it?" "No; if I did I'd be on his trail." "See anythin' that might identify th' coyote?" "Perhaps; I'll know more about it before the day is over," answered the Doc. "Big Tom has some of his men out now looking for tracks on the Double X. Those fellows don't like me very much." "Blast their eyes!" commented Two-Spot, sweeping with renewed vigor. Doc glanced at him, frowned, and went on. "Some things lead me to think one way; other things, other ways. It's complicated by Squint's disappearance." Two-Spot assimulated the second shock with avidity. He was beginning to be glad that he was alive, and his brain was putting two and two together at top speed. His ears fairly ached for more, and he waited for the third. When there were two, there should always be a third, he hopefully assured himself. Dave's face showed real surprise again and then marched to orders and revealed his sympathy and disapprobation. "Why, there won't be nobody safe!" he exclaimed. "Do you mean he's missin'?" "He is. Have you seen him since the night they were all here?" "No; I ain't." "Sorrers an' calamities never come singly," said Two-Spot, energetically digging a match stick out of a crack. "Mebby it was Squint," suggested Dave, "as captured you." "Well, the evidence points that way, but it isn't reasonable," replied the Doc, going to a chair and sitting down. "Squint wasn't the sort of a man who would go out of his way to do anyone a favor, especially if it was for someone he did not like; and most especially if it involved a large element of risk. But this man had on Squint's slicker, rode Squint's horse and saddle, and even had Squint's gloves and gun." "He must 'a' et Squint," suggested Two-Spot, spitting violently at the thought. "Shut up, you!" said Dave, sternly. "But, Doc, he was shore petrified when he left here; an' what he had in his person would stay with him for a long time. He allus was economical in his drunks: he made 'em last quite a spell. Now, when a man's full of liquor he'll likely do anythin'--no tellin' what."