the
back door. And what good are immigration laws if we can't enforce
them? I'm just telling you this to impress upon you the seriousness of
the project."

"It is certainly no joking matter," Bud agreed, handing back the badge.
"So you're a federal man! I should think if you wanted to trace the
smugglers secretly you'd take another position than deputy."

"You'll see how it will work out," Hawkins said. "It's sometimes best
to seem almost what you are, to avoid seeming what you really are.
Figure that one out. What I mean is, if I openly assume the aspect of
a man of the law, no one will look further than that. Understand?"

"I do," responded Dick. "And now let's decide on our plan of action.
Do you think what happened to Bud will change any of the details, Mr.
Hawkins?"

"Don't see why it should. In fact I think it makes our scheme all the
more advisable. Personally, I believe the run will go through
to-night. There's no doubt but that's what you heard referred to, Bud,
for I had a tip concerning the same thing. They will depend on the
element of surprise and the superiority in number to succeed. We'll
have our hands full, at any rate."

"Somehow this doesn't seem real," mused Bud. "Here we are planning to
capture a gang of smugglers who _know_ we're after them, yet they go
right ahead and play into our hands."

"My dear boy," said Hawkins grimly, "you don't quite understand.
Delton is far from playing into our hands. In fact, if truth be told,
our chances are rather slim that we'll ever see Delton. He's no baby.
But I think we've got him beaten in one way--the gang across the border
doesn't know what we know. Now here's the situation." Dick and Bud
came closer. "A shipload of Chinks have just landed in Mexico. Never
mind how I know, but I do. These Chinese have got to be smuggled over
the border within three days, to make room for another bunch. All
right. This gang in Mexico corresponded with Delton last week, telling
him that he was to receive the Chinks on a certain night.

"There's one thing we want to make sure of--and that is to avoid
frightening them off. Has there been much action around your ranch?"

"None at all. We've kept things pretty quiet."

"That's good. Tell you--I think it would be best if you fellows would
stay as close to the ranch house as possible, until this thing is over.
You see the smugglers might send out a one man auto patrol, some time
to-day or this eve