Mason let the car out at a reasonable road speed and soon the outbuildings of Trader’s Post came into view. A moment later he drove up to the general store where Josephine wished to do some trading. “This is the place where you rescued the fair Waneda,” she reminded him. His face reddened. “I still think the Spanish girl was made an innocent tool by Ricker’s gang and didn’t know what her message contained,” he answered in defence. Josephine had one foot on the running board and flashed a tantalizing smile up at him. “See if you can keep out of trouble, Sir Jack, while I am in the store. I will try to be quick,” and with a wave of her hand she disappeared inside. Mason grinned broadly. “If she is like most women when they go shopping, I will have some wait,” he mused to himself. Swinging around in his seat he took to watching the four corners or common, which was all Trader’s Post could boast of. There were a few people in sight, mostly cowboys, and as he looked, the only hotel in the place came under his observation. Suddenly he sat up stiff and straight, staring hard at the hotel porch. He had made out the figure of MacNutt and he was staggering with locked arms around another cowboy, who was maudlin drunk, and the other cowboy was from Ricker’s ranch! A low whistle escaped his lips. All his former distrust for this man who called himself MacNutt came back to him with double force. He resolved to denounce MacNutt to the owner of Bar X when he got back to the ranch. He was interrupted in his meditations by Josephine. She came hurrying out of the store with her arms full of bundles and deposited them at his feet with a sigh of relief. “I didn’t keep you waiting very long, did I?” she asked a little anxiously. “Yes, I mean no,” he replied absently, still keeping his eyes on the two men. “What are you staring at?” she questioned. “Jump in and I will explain to you when we get under way,” he said, starting the car in motion. “It’s about that man MacNutt,” he confided to her. “While you were in the store I happened to look over to the hotel, and there was MacNutt talking with one of the cowboys from the Ricker ranch. I never quite trusted the fellow from the start, and it looks mighty suspicious to see him mixing with that bunch.” “It does look peculiar,” Josephine answered gravely. “He knows the Ricker crowd are enemies of my father. I don’t see what MacNutt would want of them.” “Well, don’t worry your pretty head about it, and I will take the matter up with your father when we get back to the ranch. We are out on a pleasure trip to-day and I am going to teach you how to run this car before we get home.” “You talk very confidently.” “Is my confidence misplaced?” She laughed easily. “I never met a man like you before.” “Nor have I ever met a girl like you before,” he returned instantly.