"My two friends here were having a little dispute about eyesight," he said. "Mr. Sutton said you had the best eyesight of any one he ever saw, and were quick to notice anything. He said you had to be to work on a cattle range." "And Mr. Hynard said he believed he had as good eyesight as you," put in Tupper. "I told him he hadn't, and we agreed to ask you," went on Sutton. "That's all right. His saying so doesn't prove it," remarked Hynard, in a somewhat surly tone. "Of course not, but it doesn't take much to see that he has better eyesight than you, and is quicker with it. He has to be to use a lasso, don't you, Mr. Bradner?" "Well, it does take a pretty quick eye and hand to get a steer when he's on the run," admitted Roy. "And you can do it, I'll bet. Hynard, you're not in it with this lad." "I believe I am!" "Now don't get excited," advised Mr. Baker, in soothing tones. "We can easily settle this matter." "How? We haven't got a lasso here, nor a wild steer," said Hynard. "Anyhow I don't claim I can throw a lariat as well as he can. I only said I had as quick eyesight." "Well, we can prove that," went on Mr. Baker. "How?" "Easy money. Let's see. This windowsill will do." From his pocket Mr. Baker produced three halves of English walnut shells, and a small black ball, about the size of a buck shot. It seemed to be made of rubber. "Here's a little trick that will prove any one's eyesight," he said. "The eye doctors in New York use it to test any person who needs glasses. A doctor friend of mine gave me this." "How do you work it?" asked Hynard, seemingly much interested. "This way. I place these three shells on the windowsill, so. Then I put the little ball under one. Watch me closely. I move it quite fast, first putting it under one shell, then the other. Now, I stop and, Hynard, tell me which shell it's under! I don't believe you can, I think my young friend can do so." "All right," agreed Hynard. "Which shell is the ball under?" asked Mr. Baker, drawing back, and leaving the three shells in a row; they all looked alike, yet Roy was sure the ball was under the middle one. "It's under there!" exclaimed Hynard, putting his finger on the end shell nearest Roy. "Is it?" asked Mr. Baker with a laugh, as he raised it up, and showed nothing beneath. "Now let Mr. Bradner try." "I think it's there," spoke the boy, indicating the middle shell. "Right you are," came from Mr. Baker, as he lifted the shell, and disclosed the ball. "Well, it's easier to pick the right one out of two, than out of three," remonstrated Hynard. "All right. I'll give him first pick this time," and once more Mr. Baker manipulated the shells and ball. "Now where is it?" he asked Roy quickly. The boy, who was quite taken with the new trick, was eagerly leaning forward, watching with eyes that little escaped, the movements of Mr. Baker's fingers. "It's there," he said quietly, indicating the shell farthest away from him.