he young man
with the pointed beard."

"Whew! again."

"Looks pretty complicated, doesn't it?"

"Worse than that. Ted, are you sure about this Colonel Billings?"

"One is sure of nothing in this world, but I have taken a fancy to
Billings, and when I like a man he generally turns out all right, making
allowances for minor faults and habits. Yes, I think I can trust
Billings."

"But not his friends. Ted, do you want to know what I think?"

"Certainly."

"I feel that the invitation out there is a trap to catch you, and
possibly keep you away from the town."

"Nonsense! Why should they want to keep me away from the town? There
doesn't seem to be anything wrong in town that I could bother them in,
except the Norcross incident, and if, as I suspect, he has duped his
partners, he will say nothing to them about me."

"Suppose they want to get out there to do away with you."

"They wouldn't ask all of you out there with me in that case."

"That is where you are mistaken. They are too shrewd to excite your
suspicions by inviting you alone. It will not be hard for them to get
you away from the ranch to look at some cattle and then kill you. Ted,
you are too dangerous to them to be let alone."

"Well, it can't be helped now, and being right in among them is a hope I
did not expect to see realized so easily. But they will have no
advantage over me, for none of the syndicate, I take it, know of the
counterfeits as yet, except Norcross and the inevitable Checkers. But at
that, I don't think they will resort to violence. We are too strong for
them, at the ranch, at least I believe they will use diplomacy."

"Well, we can play at the game ourselves. There, perhaps, I can help
you."

"You bet you can. But let us go down to the station and see if the red
motor car, 118, has arrived yet."

When they reached the station, Ted went to the express agent and asked
for the car.

"Yes," said the agent, "the car arrived this morning, Mr. Strong, and I
delivered it according to your instructions. The charges are not paid
yet. Your messenger said you would call later and settle for them, and,
knowing you by reputation, I let it go."

Ted was staring at the agent.

"You delivered it according to my instructions?"

"Yes, sir."

"I didn't give any one an order for the car."

"Why, you must have forgotten it. Here it is. I happened to see one of
your boys down here, and called him to one side and asked him if it was
your si