ut to call Jose. Judith, at the
telephone, called for Doc Tripp.

"Come up immediately," she commanded, "prepared to make a test for
hog-cholera germs, Doc. No, I am not sure of anything, but I think I
begin to see where it came from and how. Hurry, will you?"

To Jose she said abruptly:

"Go down to the men's quarters, Jose. Tell Carson and Lee to come
right up." And as Jose turned to go, she added carelessly: "Seen any
of the men yet?"

"_Si, senorita_," answered Jose. "Poky Face is up."

"Poker Face? All right, Jose. The others will be about, then."

Jose took little more time for his errand than for his elaborate bow.
Carson and Lee came promptly, Carson a score of steps in advance, for
Lee had tarried just long enough to wash his face and brush his hair;
Carson had not.

"Tell me," demanded Judith, looking at her cattleman with intent
eagerness, "what do you know about Poker Face?"

"One of the best men I've got," answered Carson heartily.

"Square, you think?"

"Yes. If I didn't think so he'd have been on his way a long time ago."

"How long has he been here? Who took him on?"

"Trevors hired him. About the same time he hired me."

Bud Lee, entering then, wondered what new thing was afoot. He glanced
down and saw a bare foot peeping out from the hem of Judith's heavy red
robe; he saw the hair tumbled in a glorious brown confusion over her
shoulders. She was amazingly pretty this way.

"I want you two men to just stick around until I send for you again,"
said Judith, her eyes upon Carson alone, a little pink, naked foot
suddenly withdrawn and tucked somewhere under her in her chair. "And
keep your eyes on Poker Face. Keep him here, too, Carson. By the way,
did any of you boys come in late last night? Or early this morning?"

"Why, no," answered Carson slowly. "An' yes. None of the reg'lar
boys, but a man from down the river, looking for a job. Heard we was
short-handed. Blew in early. Just got in a few moments ago, Poker
Face said."

Quick new interest flew into Judith's eyes.

"Keep him here, too!" she cried. "And I'll give you something to do
while you wait: bring me all the pigeons you can get your hands
on--white ones. Shoot them if you have to. And be careful you don't
rub the dust off their feet."

Carson's eyes went swiftly to Bud Lee's. In Carson's mind there was a
quick suspicion: The strain of life on the ranch was proving too much
for a girl, after all.