“I remember! I’ll bet Checkered Shirt is one of them, too. Well, let’s get to work. You and I are going to ride fence, aren’t we? Might as well get started. The better shape we keep the fence in, the harder it will be for the rustlers to nab any of the X Bar X stock, if they’re planning to do that. Golly, what’s this country coming to? They claim the old West is gone, but if some of those birds who say that would come here, they’d soon find out! But we can do without rustlers, if we have to, I guess.” “I’ll tell a maverick we can!” Roy declared forcibly. “If they’re part of the old West, let ’em go. I won’t keep ’em. Come on, grab a bronc and let’s be on our way.” It was almost dark when the two boys returned from their work of repairing the fence. As they dismounted and led the horses to the watering trough, a familiar noise greeted their ears. It was the rattle of a flivver, above which sounded a voice. “Made it, ladies! Got this tin bronco ridin’ right along, didn’t I? Whoa! Grab a-holt, ladies, we’re goin’ to land, an’ there’s no tellin’ what she’ll do when she hits ground again! Yow! There she is. Ho-o-o-old up now, you snortin’ peanut-roaster!” “Bug Eye!” Roy exclaimed, with a grin, turning to his brother. “And he’s not alone, either!” Teddy remarked mischievously. “He was talking to ‘ladies,’ Roy! Did you get that?” A girlish laugh punctuated Bug Eye’s further description of the “peanut-roaster.” CHAPTER XIII NORINE ENTERTAINS Leaving the horses to drink their fill at the watering trough, Roy and Teddy hurried over towards the car, which had come to a stop near the entrance to the ranch house. “Howdy, boys!” Bug Eye called, as he alighted and opened the rear door. “The ladies was afraid I wouldn’t get here before dark. But they needn’t have worried. I can make any place before dark! I got you here O.K., didn’t I?” he asked proudly, as he helped Nell and Ethel out of the auto. “You certainly did!” Nell answered, with a laugh. “Hello, Roy and Teddy!” “Hello, Nell!” Roy greeted. “How are you, Ethel?” asked Teddy. “Have a good trip over?” “Sounds as though we just landed from an ocean voyage!” Ethel laughed. “Yes, we had a fine trip, Teddy. Bug Eye is such a careful driver that--” “_Careful_, ma’am?” Bug Eye interrupted, pushing his sombrero back and wiping the perspiration from his forehead with the back of his hand. “Careful? I guess you ain’t heard about the time--” “Here it comes,” Teddy remarked in an undertone. “About the time I was sent over to Eagles by the boss to bring back a crate of eggs,” Bug Eye went on imperturbably. “You see--nope, Roy, they didn’t bring no bags except them two pocket-books in the rear; you can tote them in if you want. As I was sayin’, the boss sent me down to Eagles to bring back a crate of eggs what was comin’ in on the train. Now you know what a freight wrastler does to eggs. ‘Handle with care’ means ‘Treat ’em rough’ to baggage heavers.