“No one saw him go, and as near as I can make out by his talk, he had drunk a little too much at the hotel and feeling wobbly on his feet he started for the hotel porch to get some air. Just as he opened the door, Ricker’s bunch swung around the corner and one of them took a quick shot at him. The gang never stopped, but made directly for their ranch. Tex says he got a good look at the man that shot him, and I am going after him to-day. “Tex fell to the floor after he was hit, but he’s as game as a bulldog and ordered the men at the hotel to put him on his horse and he rode for home. The doctor says the long ride is more to blame for his present low condition than the bullet.” They were interrupted at this point by MacNutt who came hurrying toward them. “The doctor says that Tex will live,” he said briefly, addressing Bud, and giving Mason a curt nod. MacNutt was standing in his slouching way and regarding Bud with dull eyes. Bud lit a cigarette and offered one to MacNutt. “That’s good news,” Bud replied as he watched MacNutt puffing dolefully on the cigarette. “What’s on your mind, man? You act as though you were in a trance.” MacNutt shifted his feet awkwardly. “I want to ask a favor of you, Bud,” he said gravely. “I want you to let me lead your men on this round up of Ricker’s gang.” It was an amazing request coming from a man of MacNutt’s caliber, and Bud stared hard at him. “Did I get you right?” he questioned slowly, astonishment in his voice, “Just say that again.” “I want to lead your men to Ricker’s ranch,” he repeated, turning an appealing glance on Mason. “Mason, here, knows I can be trusted, and I happen to know the guard at Ricker’s ranch and can take him by surprise so he won’t give the alarm. Then we can surround the ranch, and if we plan to reach there at night we can hold them up before they can pull a gun and you can take your man prisoner.” It was a long speech for MacNutt to make, but the man had evidently planned the attack out in every detail, while his earnest manner see make a deep impression on Bud. “I think MacNutt’s plan is a good one at that, Bud,” Mason spoke up, “I think he can be trusted, and as he says he knows the guard at Ricker’s we could make the capture easier. Of course, I can’t figure out how he happens to be on friendly terms with some of Ricker’s men, though,” he went on, giving MacNutt a dubious look, “but perhaps he will explain that to us later. Something tells me he is on the square, but you can use your own judgment, Bud.” MacNutt gave Mason a grateful look as he finished. “All right,” Bud said shortly, as though coming to a sudden decision. “I will take a chance on you, MacNutt, but you want to ride straight.” There was a warning note in his voice. “We will leave here in order to reach Ricker’s at nightfall. Be sure your guns are well looked after.” With this parting admonition Bud left them abruptly. Mason faced around and looked at MacNutt sternly.