“I’m sober enough to know what I’m doin’,” said McLeese. “Not if you had three drinks--and you’ve had more.” Reber did not wait for McLeese to reply, but turned to the others. “I brought you boys here tonight to see if we can’t figure out some way to stop this rustlin’,” he said slowly. “We’re losin’ too many cattle to suit me. What’s to be done?” Patterson shook his head. “I dunno, Park,” he said slowly. “It beats me.” “How about you, Jackson?” “Same as Slim.” “Same here,” growled Carlin. “They ain’t hit my place,” said Franks of the M 33. “Mebbe I’m too far north.” “That may be,” nodded Reber. “But it’s got to stop.” “Go out and stop old Buck Priest,” said McLeese. Reber studied McLeese’s flushed face. “You think they’re runnin’ ’em out this end of the valley, Mac?” “Priest hates yuh, don’t he? They’re not goin’ over the West Fork pass, and the boys have been watchin’ the Trapper Creek pass. Jack Silver is friendly to Buck Priest. By ----, I’d wipe out that whole ---- gang.” “There’s a lady present,” said Reber coldly. “I forgot,” said McLeese. “Anyway, I don’t think this is any place for a woman.” “I asked her to be here,” said Reber. “When I want yore opinion on that I’ll ask for it, McLeese!” “I’m jist wonderin’ if McLeese’s idea ain’t worth quite a lot, at that,” said Jackson. “I don’t mean about the lady, but about Priest and Silver. We’ve tried to trap Silver a lot of times, but he’s too much Injun to be trapped.” “He’s smart,” said McLeese. “Too smart for you, eh?” asked Reber. “Oh, I dunno,” flared McLeese. “You haven’t landed him, and that’s the answer,” said Reber. “He’s too smart. He thinks twice while you’re thinkin’ once. And you object to this lady being here. She’s got more sense in a minute than you’ll ever show, McLeese.” Both June and McLeese flushed, but for different reasons. The rest of the men eyed June closely. Perhaps they thought Reber was getting old and that this pretty girl was in a position to get a hand into the Reber fortune. It was an embarrassing position for the girl. McLeese laughed, and they saw Reber’s lips tighten. Carlin kicked at McLeese’s ankle beneath the table, but only succeeded in kicking a leg of the table. “We’re not gettin’ anywhere,” said Reber coldly. “No, and we’ll not get anywhere as long as you’ll let Jack Silver and Buck Priest do as they please,” growled Carlin. “Let’s clean ’em out, I say.” “On what evidence, Carlin?” “General principles. Buck tried to kill you. He’ll try it again. Silver is a half-breed thief. Just pass the word and we’ll rid the valley of the whole brood.” “Meanin’,” said Reber slowly, “that Silver is too smart for you to catch red-handed, eh?” “If yuh want to put it that way--yes.” “You think he bunches up cattle and takes ’em through the Trapper Creek pass and sells ’em in Clear Valley?” “Cinch. We can’t get any evidence in Clear Valley. We’ve tried it often enough.”