“I have a suspicion they are running our cattle, and the foreman thinks so, too,” he explained, “but they are slick about it and we can’t get anything on them yet. Our foreman is sheriff of this county, and if he ever gets any evidence he will push them to the limit, for he is a bad man when he gets started. You see, Jack,” Red continued, “there’s a ranch up the valley from us run by a man named Ricker. His boundary line touches ours and these two men used to work for him. Ricker is as crooked as they make them and we think these two men are spotting our cattle for Ricker and helping him run them over the line.” “It begins to look as if I am going to have an interesting time out here,” mused Mason to himself. “Do you know, Red, I think I am going to like this life; that is, if I can get used to this rough riding,” he finished tersely, as he squirmed in the saddle. Red laughed. “You’ll soon get used to hard riding if you stick with us,” he said. “Yes,” chimed in Scotty with a grin, “but don’t let that redhead try to show you how to do any trick riding.” Sullivan had a shock of red hair, but he didn’t like to be reminded of the fact. “Why you grinning idiot,” he said with withering sarcasm, “I can stop you on any stunt you want to try with a horse.” “I’ll take you up on that,” flared Scotty; “there’s going to be games at the ranch next month, and if you can beat me on trick riding, you can pick out the best Stetson hat at the Post that money will buy.” “That bet goes,” agreed Red, shaking hands with him. Mason looked on with an amused smile as he listened to the two friends wrangle. “Scotty thinks he’s the only thing that ever stepped in boots when it comes to riding a horse,” declared Red testily. “I don’t see why those two men you speak of should have anything against Miss Josephine,” said Mason, breaking a long silence. “I can explain that,” replied Red with a chuckle, “one of these men goes by the name of Tom Powers. He came from the East, and is well educated. He had the nerve to try to make love to her, and one day he became offensive. Then she turned him down cold and he got sore on her. The other cuss is a half-breed Mexican, and goes by the name of Pete Carlo. He went to work with Powers for the Bar X outfit.” “The only thing Pete can do well is to throw the reata,” broke in Scotty. “Yes, he’s a fiend at that stunt,” assented Red. “Buck Miller is the only man on the range that’s got a chance with Pete. They had a contest a short time ago, and Buck got an even break with him. I expect——” Red broke off suddenly and stared hard to the right. Mason following his gaze saw a girl on horseback. She was too far off for him to make out her features, but he could see that she sat her horse with perfect ease, and was riding at a moderate pace.