. He hides from them as well as
the law. There is little we can do except to keep alert. I'll keep my
gun with me up at the canyon and a shot through his windshield would
drive him frantic. He's liable to miss the bridge in his zeal to get
away. He will have to come in the daytime and the folks at the filling
station will warn us now that they know his intentions."

However the matter of the proposed visit of the killer had an exciting
and ludicrous interruption when, on the next morning, Mrs. Gillis
heard the labored chugging of a car coming up the hill to the east.
Landy and Davy were at the barn. They too heard the noise and saw a
small ancient roadster turn into the driveway and stop. A young man
got out of the car and came to the door. This was not the killer but
it might be news of his plans. Landy and Davy entered the house by the
back door.

"Why, it's young Goff," said Landy, interrupting the introduction. "I
met you last spring over at Rawlins. You were in a confab with some
sheep men over there."

The visitor laughed. "Yes, these Rawlins folks are big operators," the
young man explained. "I have to visit 'em about once a year to let 'em
know that I am still alive and still grazing a few head over east of
their allotment. Why, my little band isn't big enough to make up their
summer shortage. If one of their herders rambles over in my district
and there is a mixup, I could easily lose a lot of grass and some
sheep. I can't talk Spanish, and the herder says that he no savvy
'Meriky' and it's up to me to sort and claim.

"But they are a fine lot of fellows, these Rawlins operators, once
they understand that you are on the square. I visit with them every
spring when I sell my fur and pelts. Yes, I have to trap in the winter
to get enough money to pay my grazing allotment, and in my contacts
with these sheep owners, I find that they are always willing to
cooperate."

The young visitor had taken the proffered chair. Mrs. Gillis, Landy
and Davy joined to complete the half-circle. It was apparent that he
had a mission more important than reciting the details of herding and
trapping. Landy had introduced Davy as a new-comer, "Wuth a lot more
than his size would indicate."

"I came over to Carter's last evening to buy some gas and see how old
Maddy was getting along and to tell him how his friends, the
gangsters, finished their orgy. I found the oldster was doing
fine--would be fully recovered by next spring--bu