o beat all get-out. But
I'd give a dollar Mex to see the other man. He's sure a pippin to see
this glad mawnin'."

Something of what was groping in her mind broke from Ruth into words.
"Why do men fight like that? It's dreadful."

Dan scratched his shiny bald head. "It straightens out a heap of things
in this little old world. My old man used to say to me when I was a kid,
'Son, don't start trouble, but when it's going, play yore hand out.'
That's how it is with Steve. He ain't huntin' trouble anywhere, but he
ce'tainly plays his hand out."

Phil took charge of his sister. He gave her coffee and breakfast, then
arranged blankets so that she could get a few hours' sleep in comfort.
Orman rode back to Los Robles to carry the word to Mrs. Seymour that
Ruth had been rescued and was all right. The others lounged about camp
while Yeager and the girl slept.

At noon they were wakened. Coffee was served again, after which they
rode down from the pass and started home. Before supper-time they were
back in Los Robles.

CHAPTER XV

STEVE WINS A HAM SANDWICH

Yeager was roused from sleep next morning by a knock at the door. His
visitor was Fleming Lennox, leading man of the company.

"Say, Steve, what about Threewit and Farrar? I just telephoned to the
Lazy B Ranch and the foreman says his boys did not run across them. You
know what that means. They've reached old Pasquale's camp."

Yeager sat up in bed and whistled softly to himself. This was a
contingency he had not foreseen. What would the Mexican chief do to two
of the range-rider's friends who delivered themselves into his hands so
opportunely? Steve did not think he would kill them offhand, but he was
very sure they would not be at liberty to return home. Moreover,
Harrison would be on the ground, eager for revenge. The prizefighter
never had liked Farrar. He had sworn to get even with Threewit. An added
incentive to this course was the fact that he knew them both to be on
very good terms with his chief enemy. Without doubt Chad would do his
best to stimulate the insurgent leader to impulsive violence.

The man in bed concealed his apprehension under a comical grin. "This
life's just one damned thing after another, looks like," he commented.
"I didn't figure on that. I thought sure the boys would bump into
Threewit. That slip-up surely spills the beans."

"You don't think even Pasquale would dare hurt them, do you?" asked
Lennox anxiously.

"Search me.