It's mighty heavy, an' I thought one spell
yesterday I'd have to give up the job. Reckon you're glad to get it,
eh?"

"What have you there?"

"Grub, of course. When Joe didn't turn up, an' there was no sign of
Fred, I figured that you'd both want somethin' to eat, so took out my
wages in what was handiest to eat. Mrs. Byram said I'd never find you,
but it wouldn't do any harm to try, so here we are."

"Did you spend your money to buy us food?" Fred asked.

"Why not? It'll take a good deal more'n that to straighten things
between us, an' I'd like to get the 'count squared some time."

"You've done it already, Skip. It was you who first put us on the track
of the thieves, and now you've helped the cause along wonderfully, for
it has been a good while since I had all I could eat."

"Well, fill yourself up right now. There's no need to hurry, for you
can't get to Farley's to-night, an'----Hello, Gus! Got through with your
trip so soon?"

"You'll wish I hadn't before this thing is ended," was the surly reply,
and then the prisoner turned his back on the ex-chief of the regulators.

Quite naturally Skip was eager to hear the result of the chase, and
while Joe and Fred were eating they gave him the full particulars.

"Do you know the way home?" Brace asked when the story was told.

"Of course. I've been out here half a dozen times. Was you calculatin'
to keep straight ahead?"

"Yes."

"Then you'd gone six miles the other side of Farley's."

"If that is the case, it's lucky you found us. Let's make another start;
now I've filled up it seems possible to travel without stopping again
until we are at mother's door."

With a guide and provisions in plenty, the long tramp yet to be endured
seemed but a trifling affair, and the party, with the single exception
of Gus, were in the best of spirits.

The night was spent near a small water course in the valley, and at
three o'clock all hands entered the company's store at Farley's.

Both Mr. Wright and the cashier were in the building, and they listened
in undisguised astonishment as Joe told the story of the capture.

"Here is the money, except what they have spent," Fred said when Joe
concluded the recital, and he handed the package to the superintendent.

An examination showed that but fifty-three dollars were missing, and
then Mr. Wright turned to Gus, who was wearing a look of mingled
indignation and innocence.

"How did you get this money from Thorpe?"

"Wh