“We must have followed the wrong lead. If any one was ridin’ double, it wasn’t the ones we was after, that’s one thing sure. The blamed hoss thieves pulled clean away from us. Our hosses were plumb winded anyway. And—there’s a deader out there, Boss,” lowering his voice; “I found him as I came back.” “That explains why no one was riding double,” said Langford, thoughtfully. “How’s the gal, Boss?” “I don’t know, Jim. I—don’t know what to do now.” His eyes were full of trouble. “Ain’t no use cryin’ over spilt milk and that’s a fac’. ’Bout as sensible as a tryin’ to pick it up after it is spilt. We won’t find Williston this here night, that’s one thing sure. So we’ll just tote the little gal home to the Three Bars with us.” The boys were returning, silent, gloomy, disconsolate. They eyed the Boss tentatively. Would they receive praise or censure? They had worked hard. “You’re all right, boys,” said Langford, smiling away their gloom. “But about the girl. There is no woman at the Three Bars, you know—” “So you’d leave her out all night to the dew and the coyotes and the hoss thieves, would you,” interrupted Jim, with a fine sarcasm, “jest because there ain’t no growed-up woman at the Three Bars? What d’ye think Williston’s little gal’d care for style? She ain’t afraid o’ us ol’ grizzled fellers. I hope to the Lord there won’t never be no growed-up woman at the Three Bars,—yep, that’s what I hope. I think that mouse-haired gal reporter’d be just tumble fussy, and I think she’s a goin’ to marry a down Easterner chap, anyway.” “Just pick up that fellow, will you, boys, and strap him to his horse, and we’ll take him along,” said Langford. “I don’t believe he’s dead.” “What fellow?” asked the Scribe, peering casually about. Langford had unconsciously ridden forward a bit to meet the boys as they had clattered up shamefacedly. Now he turned. “Why, that fellow over there. I knocked him out.” He rode back slowly. There was no man there, nor the trace of a man. They stared at each other a moment, silently. Then Langford spoke. “No, I am not going to leave Williston’s little girl out in the dew,” he said, with an inscrutable smile. “While some of you ride in to get some one to see about that body out there and bring out the doctor, I’ll take her over to White’s for to-night, anyway. Mrs. White will care for her. Then perhaps we will send for the ‘gal reporter,’ Jim.” CHAPTER XI “YOU ARE—THE BOSS” She held out her left hand with a sad little smile. “It is good of you to come so soon,” she said, simply.