“Hum,” mused Mason softly, “pretty swell outfit for a bunch of low down cattle thieves as Bud seems to think they are.” He had about made up his mind to make a tour of all the rooms and had started towards a door leading into a hall when he heard a noise behind him. “Move, and I shoot!” the command was fairly barked at him. Quickly he raised his hands above his head, glancing over his shoulder as he did so. Through a hole in the wall a bony hand produced, grasping a long blue-barreled Colt aimed directly at his head. Mason heard his captor fumbling with a lock and slowly a door swung outward revealing to his astonished gaze the most hideous-looking object he had ever set eyes upon. It was a hunchback with massive frame and great powerful arms that reached to his knees. He advanced slowly towards Mason with a horrible leer on his lips, eyes twitching and bright with rage. Mason’s thoughts flew swiftly as he watched the hunchback close in on him. He had come away from the ranch unarmed as he never had cared for the use of firearms. Now, he wished most heartily that he had taken Josephine’s advice when one day she had urged him to carry a gun. “Guess I’ve got maw’s fool in a fuss,” he said grimly to himself as he braced his body for a struggle. “This thing is dippy or I’m foolish.” When within a few feet of Mason the hunchback suddenly dropped his revolver and grappled with him. Mason met the onslaught with a terrific swing to the dwarf’s jaw. Hard as the blow was, it did not seem to have any effect. Mason felt the bony hands of his assailant close about his throat with crushing force. Bright lights flashed before his eyes and he could hear the hunchback’s breath come and go in a sharp whistle. Mason realized the hunchback had him at a disadvantage, and allowing his body to become limp, he sank slowly to his knees. The ruse worked, for the hunchback released the strangle hold about his neck. Like a flash Mason straightened up and throwing his left arm around his assailant’s neck he seized his right arm and exerting tremendous pressure forced it sharply up between his shoulder blades. It was the hammerlock and he soon had the hunchback begging for mercy. Mason was thoroughly angered by this time and threw the loathsome creature into the corner, a groveling mass. Picking up the gun he slipped it into his pocket. “Why did you wish to take my life?” he demanded, gazing down at his fallen foe. “I know you,” the dwarf grated in a cracked voice. “Your name is Mason, the new man at Walters’ ranch, and I got orders to watch you.” “Why watch me?” Mason asked, his curiosity aroused. “That’s for you to find out,” the dwarf answered, a crafty look coming into his eyes. Mason suddenly whipped the gun out of his pocket and leveled it at the dwarf. “Tell me the truth,” he commanded sternly. “I thought you was trying to steal something, and there was nobody about and I was left to guard the place,” the dwarf whined.