"Don't know anything about it," returned Ross shortly, but he could not rid himself of the insinuation in Sandy's words. When he returned that night to Meadow Creek, Ross was disappointed at finding Wilson awaiting him as well as Leslie. He had hoped that Leslie would come for the papers alone and would continue the conversation of his previous visit. In a loud and jovial voice Wilson informed Doc that his pard had started out in good shape that morning to go over to Camp and had then backed out. "Must have got clean over here," Wilson added. Leslie gathered up the newspapers which Ross had brought and fitted them together without meeting Ross's eyes. "I found I was too tired to go on," was all the explanation he made. "I slept pretty much all day and am going to turn in early to-night." Ross nodded speechlessly, wondering how much Sandy's going had to do with Leslie's staying. Would the latter avoid the McKenzies now that he knew they had seemed to recognize him, and why? Before the evening was far spent Ross began to suspect that Leslie would like to avoid him also, if it were possible. The boy looked more despondent than ever, but he shielded his despondency behind a proud reserve that shut Ross out, much to the latter's disappointment. "Perhaps," Ross told himself, "if I hadn't been such an idiot as to offer him money, he wouldn't act so offish now. I never had any more tact than a goat, anyhow! Wish I had minded my own business and let him do all the talking!" "Vas ist de matter mit dot poy?" Weimer asked as soon as the door closed on their visitors. "He vas such a talker oder time he vas here und now he talks nicht at all." "Guess he's homesick." Weimer rubbed his great hands together thoughtfully. "Und sick of de mountains, I tink," he added shrewdly. "Ven dot poy come here he fooled himself!" The last of the week saw Sandy's return. He came strolling along the trail one night just as the sunlight was fading from the tops of the mountains. He was whistling, apparently in high spirits. Stopping at the door of Weimer's shack he paused to call: "Hi, in there, Grant! I saw your friend Leonard at Cody. I set you up in fine shape t' 'im. 'No grass,' says I, 'will turn t' hay while he's gittin' things done.'" Ross laughed. Despite the fact that he knew Sandy's praise covered an abyss of insincerity, it was pleasant, none the less. After the supper dishes were washed, he decided to visit the McKenzies. "Want to go along, Uncle Weimer?" he asked, well knowing what the reply would be. "Go mit dem McKenzies?" gesticulated Weimer. "Ven I do it vill pe ven my legs von't carry me avay from dem!" Ross laughed. "Well, Uncle Weimer, my legs seem to want to carry me where I can get the Cody news. I want to hear about Mr. Leonard. Perhaps he has heard from father more recently than I."