The crowd in the yard wandered off to go about their respective tasks. Teddy and Roy were to ride to Eagles to see about some new blankets and they turned to the corral to saddle Star and Flash. As they approached the railing, Teddy said to his brother: “Remember that horse I broke about a month ago--just before we went on our little picnic to Thunder Canyon? The one that jumped the fence with me?” “Sure, I remember him. Made a fine riding pony. Dad said he wouldn’t trade him for any horse on the place--except, I imagine, General.” “Yea! Well, I want you to take a look at his left foreleg. Seems to have some kind of a sore on it, and it won’t heal. I put ointment on it last week, but it didn’t seem to help. Wait here, and I’ll get him.” The boy opened the gate. At this time of year there were only a few horses within the enclosure, and no steers, since all these were on grazing ground. They would not be brought in until the round-up in the late fall. Striding up to Flash, Teddy rubbed the pony’s nose with his hand and gazed about him. Strangely enough, his eye did not catch the mount he spoke of, and he looked more carefully among the other horses. Still he could not see the bronco. “Hey, Roy!” he called. “Can you spot that pinto? Blamed if I can. I must be getting blind.” For a long moment both boys swept the corral with their eyes. Gradually they were beginning to realize the true state of affairs. “You say it,” Teddy begged. “Go ahead.” “I will--the pinto’s gone,” Roy declared grimly. “There’s no doubt about it. He’s not here, and none of the boys have him out. Teddy, he’s been stolen!” “An’ I know the waddie that took him!” Teddy burst out. “Last night! Oh, what a clown I was not to stop The Pup when I had him instead of letting him get away with a horse like that! Kick me, Roy--I deserve it!” “You don’t know for sure,” Roy admonished. “Some one else may have taken him--though it certainly does look suspicious. If we--” He was interrupted by his mother’s voice, calling from the front porch. “Teddy! Roy!” Mrs. Manley exclaimed. “Come in at once! Something has happened!” CHAPTER VIII Follow Us With a bound, the boys were out of the corral and running toward the house. As they came closer they saw a look of anxiety on their mother’s face. “What is it?” Roy shouted, not slacking his pace. “Is any one hurt?” “No, not that! But I just went to your father’s desk to get a blotter from the drawer, and a large sum of money is missing! It was taken from his desk last night!” The explanation of Mrs. Manley’s concern came as a relief, rather than a shock, to Teddy and Roy. On that short journey from the corral to the house, their minds had run the gamut of emotions--they did not know what to expect. Since the true character of The Pup was known to them, they had almost feared he had attempted to injure some one within the house. “How much was it, Mother?” Roy asked, as he reached the porch.