wly.

"Of course it's on the level!" she cried impatiently. "Oh, I know what
you're thinking. I'm going to phone immediately to the bank at Rocky
Bend and have another man sent out with more money. You can count upon
getting your pay at six o'clock!"

"I told you, didn't I," muttered Carson, "that I wasn't worrying none
personal? But if I was you I'd sure have the money on tap!"

With that he left her, going hastily to round up what men he could find
and get them into their saddles. Bud Lee, his eyes still on her, stood
where he was.

"Well," demanded the girl, "aren't you going, too?" Suddenly angered
by his leisurely air, she added cuttingly: "Not afraid, are you?"

"I was thinking," Lee answered coolly, "that the stick-up gent will
most probably figure on a play like that. If he was real wise he'd
mosey along toward Rocky Bend and pop off your second man. Two
thousand bucks a day would make a real nice little draw."

Judith paused, frowning. There was truth in that. If Trevors really
were behind this, he would have chosen his man carefully; he would have
planned ahead.

"If you'll do my way," continued Lee thoughtfully, "I'll have just
enough time to roll a smoke and saddle little old Climax. He's in the
stable now. You're not afraid of my double-crossing you? Even if a
smart-headed man had planned the hold-up he wouldn't figure on a play
like this. He'd think we'd have a Rocky Bender bring it out or else
wait until to-morrow."

"It won't do," she decided quickly. "I want that money here at six
o'clock."

"Eighty miles," mused the horse foreman. "Six hours. That's riding
right along, but do it my way and I'll gamble you my own string of
horses--and they're worth considerable more than a thousand--that I'll
be back, heeled, at six."

Judith, quick at decisions, looked him hard in the eye, heard his plan,
and three minutes later Bud Lee, a revolver in his shirt, rode away
from the ranch-house, headed toward Rocky Bend. Judith already had
called up Tripp, and the veterinarian himself, leading the fastest
saddle-horse he could get his hands on at brief notice, was also riding
toward Rocky Bend, from the Lower End, five miles in advance of Lee at
the start. He went at a gentle trot, consulting his watch now and then.

So Bud Lee, riding as once those hard, dare-devil riders rode who
carried across the land the mail-bag of the Pony Express, overtook Doc
Tripp and changed to a fresh horse at