"Your Honor," began the attorney, "we hoped to be able to settle the matter definitely to-day. I expected to show the deeds proving our claim. But, unless a certain witness whom I depended on soon arrives, we shall have to proceed to trial. If this witness were here, and if he could prove what I hoped----" "You will never be able to prove anything!" broke in the sneering voice of Del Pinzo. "Silence in the court!" cried Sheriff Hank Fowler, but almost as he spoke the decorum was again broken by a voice which cried in ringing tones: "Oh, yes, we can prove everything, Del Pinzo! Here are the deeds that prove Mr. Merkel's claim to the land, and I can prove that you stole them the night of the shooting!" "_San Diabalo!_" muttered Del Pinzo, turning quickly. "It is the brother of Feliece!" "Not exactly," laughed the voice of the newcomer. He snatched off a wig of black, wiry hair and stood revealed as--Nort Shannon! He tossed a bundle of papers to Mr. Merkel's lawyer, and then all eyes turned on Del Pinzo, who feverishly was examining a bundle of documents he tore from an oiled-silk bag. "_San Diabalo!_" he cried again. "They are gone!" "No, they are here!" mocked Nort. "I found where you had hidden the real papers, and I just took them out and substituted some of my own." Del Pinzo glared about the court for a moment, and then made a movement. "Catch that scoundrel!" cried the Judge. But it was too late. Del Pinzo slipped out, leaped to the back of his fleet horse and though the pursuit was soon organized, he got away. "Where did you come from, Nort?" asked Dick, as he shook hands with his brother. "Direct from the professor's camp. Didn't get here any too soon, either, as it happens. My horse went lame and then there was a lot of excitement when they found the Brontotherium." "Oh, did they find another of those monsters?" asked Bud. "Yep! The Grandfather of 'em all, I reckon!" laughed Nort. "And during the ruction I managed to get to the place where Del Pinzo had hidden the deeds he stole. I took them out and put in some worthless documents so he wouldn't suspect. Then I came on here. Now I guess they won't pasture any sheep at Spur Creek." And they did not. With the finding of Mr. Merkel's deeds, which had been stolen, his ownership was clearly established. No one now dared claim his lands. Of course there were parts of the open range where the sheep herders could go in, but none were as choice or as much desired as the pastures of Spur Creek. And they were far enough away not to menace Diamond X.