nts for Delton's
quick get-away, too. One of his men rode in an' told him that there
was a price on him, and he got, fast. He must have made this ranch his
headquarters. No wonder he didn't have no sheep around! Boys, we can
expect some right excitin' things to happen, in the next few weeks!"

Silence followed Billee's long speech. The veteran rancher had thrown
a veritable bombshell into camp. Delton--the man lying asleep
upstairs--the head of the smugglers! Two thousand dollars' reward!
Why, all they had to do was to tie him up and carry him to town--over
to the deputy's house. Capturing the smuggling king the first night at
the Shooting Star! It seemed too good to be true.

"There's a catch in it somewhere," commented Dick. "No man with a
reward like that on his head is going to dump himself into our hands."

"Why not? It wasn't his fault. He came sneakin' around the place to
spy on us and got caught by the cyclone. Then a board or something hit
him on the head and he fell where we found him. Nothing strange about
that! We got him and got him good! Wow, what can't we do with two
thousand dollars!"

"There's one thing we forgot, boys," the Kid broke in.

"And what's that?"

"We're downstairs, an' Delton is upstairs."

"That's soon fixed!" Bud cried, as he sprang for the steps. "Let's go,
boys!"

"Take it easy!" cautioned the Kid quickly. "What's the use of scarin'
him? We'll just go up there and truss him up while he's asleep. Won't
hurt him. That cut on the head was all that ailed him. Now, take your
time!"

The ranchers moved quietly toward the room in which they had left
Delton. As he reached the door, Bud opened it slowly and peered in.
Not a sound. Then he stuck his head in a bit further. Still no
action. In the darkness he could see the outline of the bed but
faintly.

Softly he turned the covers down. Farther--farther! Then he let out a
yell.

"Hey, come here! Quick!"

"What's the trouble?" The Kid called as he entered the room.

"He's gone! He beat it! Look!"

In the bed, molded into the shape of a man, were two pillows. Delton
had escaped, leaving the pillows in such a way as to make it appear
that he was still in the bed.

"Here's a note!" Bud cried. "He left it on one of the pillows. Let's
have that candle, Dick."

By the flickering spluttering light of the candle Bud read aloud:

"Sorry I got to go so sudden, but this bed is too hard. I wouldn't