killin' a man one way
or another, an' I'm goin' ter foller orders. If you don't want ter jine
in I reckon as how I'll have ter tell ther boss that yer flunked."

There was no response to this, and a few moments elapsed in which Ted
listened hopefully for his champion's voice.

Suddenly something dropped in the fireplace, and Ted, straining his eyes
in that direction, saw a tiny pair of tan riding boots come into view,
followed by a tan skirt, and Stella dropped noiselessly into the room.

She held up a warning finger as she saw Ted in the corner.

"Sh, sh!" she whispered, as she felt for his bonds and cut them.

Ted was on his feet on the instant, and Stella pressed a revolver into
his hand.

"I didn't go back to the ranch house, but followed you here. I saw the
red car go out, and hid. Then I sneaked along until I heard those
fellows quarreling. I was on the top of the bluff here, and guessed that
you were inside the cabin, as I couldn't see you anywhere outside, so I
just dropped in." As Stella whispered this she smiled, and Ted could
only look his thanks.

The fellow named Tom, who had been opposed to killing Ted, had evidently
been doing some hard thinking, and the threat of his mate to expose him
to Checkers evidently convinced him that he would rather be alive than
perish for a mere sentiment.

"All right, Bill," he said; "I don't like it, but we've got to share
it."

"Sure," said the other. "It'll be blow and blow. We both strike
together."

"Come on, then."

"Now," said Ted, putting Stella behind him and crouching in the
darkness.

The two men entered the cabin noisily, knowing that they had nothing to
fear from an unarmed boy bound hand and foot and lying in the corner
with nothing to hope for.

As they approached the corner they were surprised to see a stalwart
young form arise suddenly and a pair of revolvers gleam through the
darkness as a voice rang out commandingly:

"Hands up!"

The hands of both went up very promptly.

"Drop those knives!"

A pair of knives clattered to the floor.

"Face about, both of you, and go out. The first to make a break gets a
shot in the back."

At Ted's command both men obeyed. When they were outside in the
sunlight, Ted looked them over. Both had revolvers in their holsters.

"Take their revolvers away from them, Stella," said Ted.

As the girl moved forward to comply with the request of Ted Strong, the
men stared at her in amazement.

"Now, whi