dden close. I cried fer near a week--but Jeff, he was
more sore than what I was. She got him good before he killed her!"
And the Kid chuckled rememberingly.

By this time the riders had come in sight of Roaring River. They had
all been through the town, if it might be so dignified by a name, and
of course Joe Hawkins lived there, so it was no new sight to them. But
it was a change from the surroundings the Boy Ranchers had been used
to, and when they remembered that it was here all the smuggling was
going on, all were conscious of a feeling of excitement. They decided
to feed-up in town before going to the ranch, which lay about three
miles out.

They headed for "Herb's Eating Place," the one and only restaurant with
tables. The meals they ordered would have done justice to a hungry
bear.

"We have arrived!" cried Bud, when he swallowed sufficiently to allow
himself to talk. "After a long and hazardous journey through the
bad-lands of Texas, we finally came to this little gem, nestling among
the hills, resplendent in----"

"Roas' biff, roas' pork, and lem'," Nort finished. "How do you get
that way? Food always do that to you? Look at the Kid here. Not
saying a word."

"Good reason for that," laughed Bud. "He couldn't talk if he wanted
to. Hey, Kid, they serve supper here, you know."

"Yea? But I'm takin' no chances! This place may not be here to-night.
Wow! What a meal! Help me up, boys! Help me up!" And the Kid
struggled slowly to his feet. "Guess that'll hold me for a while," he
sighed.

"How about some more pie, Kid?" asked Dick with a grin on his face.

"Pie? More pie? Well, now--what kind is there left?"

"Apple, and apple, and--apple."

"Huh! Don't like them. Guess I'll take apple. Yes, a small piece of
apple would just about finish me off."

Billee Dobb put down his fork and gazed up at the Kid.

"Did I understand you to relate that you was goin' to eat some more
pie?" he asked carefully.

"You did--why?"

The veteran rancher arose and, walking over to another table, he seized
a bunch of artificial flowers that were set in a vase. Carrying them
over to the Kid, he held them reverently out before him.

"My little offering," he murmured, "to one who will be with us no
longer."

The diners in the restaurant, all of whom were observing the scene, let
out a roar of laughter. It was so ludicrous to see the old puncher
indulge in a joke that it seemed twice as funny as if