"He's fat clean to th' bald spot," shouted Arch. "Come on in, Dave. We ain't got time to hold back for no mail to get there first." He stuck his head out of the window. "So-long, fellers! See you at th' ford." Dave watched the three until they were well along the trail and then he turned slowly. "I never did really doubt th' stories Nelson told about that old outfit, but if I had any doubts I ain't got them no more. Did you see th' looks in their eyes when you was tellin' about Nelson?" "I did!" snapped Arch. "Why in h--l ain't I got whiskers?" Reaching the SV, Arnold and his companions put up the horses and walked slowly toward the house, seeing a flurry of white through the kitchen door. "Think it'll reach him in time?" asked Red, waiting outside the door for Arnold to enter first. "Ought to. Slim said he would mail it at Highbank as soon as he got there," answered Arnold. "I shore hope so," said Red. "I'd hate to have that ride for nothin' an' it would just be our luck to pass him somewhere on th' way, an' get there after he left." "He'd likely foller th' reg'lar trail up, anyhow," said Hopalong. "It ain't likely we'll miss him." Margaret put down the dish and looked at them accusingly. "What are you boys talking about?" she demanded. "Only wonderin' if yore father's letter will get to Johnny in time to catch him before he leaves," said Hopalong. "Dave says it will as long as that Slim feller is takin' it to Highbank with him. Slim live down there?" he asked his host. "No; goin' down for th' Double X, I suppose," replied Arnold. "Supper ready, Peggy?" "Not until I learn more about this," retorted Margaret, determinedly. "What letter are you talking about?" "Oh, I told Johnny to look around and see if he could pick up a good herd of yearlings cheap," answered her father, going into the next room. Margaret compressed her lips, but said nothing about it, whereupon Red silently swore a stronger oath of allegiance. "The table is waiting for you. I've had to keep the supper warm," she said. Red nodded understandingly. "Men-folks are shore a trial an' tribulation," he said, passing through the door. "Hadn't ought to take him very long, I suppose?" queried Arnold, passing the meat one way and the potatoes the other. Red laughed. "You don't know him very well, yet," he replied. "Give him a chance to dicker over a herd an' he's happy for a week or more. He shore does like to dicker." "I never saw anything in his nature which would indicate anything like that," said Margaret, tartly. "He always has impressed me with being quite direct. Perhaps I did not understand you correctly?" "Peggy! Peggy!" reproved her father. "It means bread and butter for us." "I can eat my bread without butter," she retorted. "As a matter of fact I've seen very little butter out in this country." Red screwed his face up a little and wriggled his foot. "I don't reckon you've ever seen him buyin' a herd, ma'am?"