“I get you,” Nat returned. “An’ if I see a geezer with a scar on the left side of his face I’ll let you know that, too.” Mr. Manley had told the story of the robbery to all the men on the X Bar X. Roy and Teddy walked slowly over toward the corral. “How does the old head feel, Teddy?” Roy asked. “Pretty good. Aches a little now and then. But I’d rather have a headache than an obituary notice. Roy, if you and dad hadn’t gotten there when you did, I’d have had to be swept up with a shovel.” A slight shudder passed over the boy. “Forget it,” Roy advised, laying a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “It’s over now. Say, I’ve been thinking. I--” “So have I,” Teddy interrupted. “About Flash, mostly. I miss him, Roy. Miss him like anything! If I ever catch the thief who took him--” “I know,” and Roy nodded. “I feel the same about Star, and I guess dad does about General, too. But we can’t do any good thinking about it. When the time comes, we’ll act. The boys say that the gang who rustled the cattle from the 8 X 8 is around again, and I’ve still got a hunch those are the waddies who stole our broncs. We just have to sit tight, Teddy, and do a little figuring. In the meantime, I’ve got an idea that might interest you.” “Let’s hear it,” Teddy suggested. “Not about the broncs, is it?” “No,” Roy answered. “It’s about those two girls over at Pete Ball’s place. Remember--Nell and Ethel?” “Well, now that you speak about it, I do,” Teddy drawled, with an assumption of carelessness. “Why?” “Nothing, except that they’re coming over here.” “They are?” Teddy looked up with quick eagerness, then, as quickly, turned away his head. “Well, that’ll be nice for you, Roy.” “You don’t say!” his brother laughed. “Nice for me, will it? How about you?” “Oh, I guess I can stand it. How long can they stay?” “I notice you didn’t ask when they’re going home, did you?” Roy asked. “‘How long can they stay!’ Teddy, my boy, your innocence is sublime. Well, mother telephoned to Mrs. Ball this morning, and I guess they’ll be here tonight or early tomorrow. Bug Eye will probably bring them over.” The two boys had reached the corral, and Roy paused for a moment, leaning against the rails. He peered at the horses within. Somehow, the place did not seem the same without Star trotting over to nuzzle his hand. “You mentioned something about rustlers at the 8 X 8,” Teddy remarked, as he examined the initials cut in one of the rails. “Yes. Dad heard from Eagles that they might be the same thieves who stole Flash, Star, and General. Don’t know who told him, but I imagine it was one of the men who saw them ride our ponies away. You know; the gang that hangs around the corral in town. Some of them are pretty decent, and they’d help us if they could. There’s only a certain bunch that’s got it in for dad because he wouldn’t go in for that scheme of weighting the cattle scales, as Pop told us.” Teddy nodded.