Mr. Manley, under cover of a cough, looked at his sons. They were growing to manhood quickly, these boys. Their eyes had a steadier light in them, and he noticed how straight they sat, as though they were holding their muscles taut. In the past two years they had gone through many adventures, and had come out of each with an increased feeling of reliance upon themselves. He knew now that it was wise to have allowed them to stop school when they wished. The West had been their school, as it had been his, and when one graduated from it one was well equipped for the battle of life. Under his prolonged stare, the boys shifted and looked up inquiringly. Mr. Manley chuckled and rested a hand on a shoulder of each of his sons. “I was just thinkin’, boys, that soon you’ll be wantin’ to run this ranch yourselves. You can, too. You’ve grown up, both of you. Grown up into sons I can be proud of.” Abruptly his manner changed, and he pulled them toward him affectionately. “Hit the hay now, buckers! You’re not too old for me to spank if you stay up too late!” Laughing, he released them. “Up early to-morrow. Plenty to do. Good-night, boys!” “Good-night, Dad!” Halfway up the stairs Teddy paused. “I think,” he said slowly, “that dad is a regular fellow. I’d do anything for him.” Roy replied with a single sentence, but so fervent was it that it seemed almost like a prayer: “I’ll tell a maverick he is!” And they continued to their room. Early the next day the telephone in Mr. Manley’s office rang, and Roy answered it. His father was not in at the moment, and he asked if he could take the message. “This is Peterson,” the voice at the other end said. “Will you tell your father that I’ve heard talk of rustlers in this vicinity, and warn him to guard his stock well? I’ll tell you now that I’ll hold him to that forfeit if he can’t deliver, for it means a great deal to me.” “We’ll deliver all right,” Roy declared. “Don’t worry about that. Who told you there were rustlers around?” “Oh, it’s general talk,” Peterson said evasively. “Just remember I warned you. Good-bye.” “Wait a--” There was a click as the other end disconnected, and Roy hung his receiver. He turned to find Teddy watching him. “More news?” “You might call it that. Peterson just called up. Told me to tell dad that he’s heard there are rustlers around, and to keep track of our stock. Said he’d demand the forfeit if we didn’t deliver.” “Huh! Sort of knocks our theory into a cocked hat--about his being in with the Lefton crowd. If he--I mean Peterson--was a rustler, the last thing he’d want to do would be to warn us to watch the cows.” “Yea. Does look like that. Well, I’ll tell dad what he said. Coming?” The two boys walked out of the office and into the yard. When Mr. Manley heard Roy’s story he merely nodded, and gave no thought to Teddy’s suggestion that this proved Peterson “was O.K.”