Dick driving his own team,
Hackett's hitched to his wagon tail, whirled by at a gallop.

Roger and Ernest stood gaping, first at the receding puff of dust on the
Archer's Springs trail, then at each other.

"Something's wrong at the ranch!" exclaimed Roger finally.

Ernest nodded and they both turned to stare toward the ranch house. As
they stood scowling into the blinding desert light, a little gray burro
rounded the corner of the cook tent, and a moment later Crazy Dutch
appeared.

"We need a traffic policeman in this desert," said Ernest solemnly.
"There's too much passing at this corner."

"Get your gun, quick, Ern. It's Von Minden," cried Roger.

Ernest obeyed hurriedly. But the visitor shot his arms even more
hurriedly into the air.

"Don't shoot!" he cried. "My gun's strapped on Peter. I came to make
apologies. Search Peter and me."

"I certainly will," said Roger, starting to suit action to word, as
Ernest came running back with his shot gun. But he was interrupted. Mrs.
von Minden came slowly forth from her tent, the broom in her hand with
which she had been sweeping the sand drifts from her bed and floor.

"Gott im Himmel!" roared Crazy Dutch.

"He cannot hear such as you." Madam's tone was grim, as she advanced
majestically.

She was a good foot taller than her husband, but he did not flinch, even
at sight of the broom.

"What are you doing here?" he took a threatening step toward her.

"I was waiting for you, Otto."

"Well, I don't want you. I finished with you a good many years ago.
There are just two things in my life now and they are my work and my
emperor."

"Fudge!" exclaimed Mrs. von Minden, unexpectedly. "There's just two
things in your life, just as there's always been, your work and your
German cussedness. Otto, I want that strong box of yours. Give it to me
and I'll go back to Phoenix."

Crazy Dutch gave an ugly laugh. "I'm likely to do that! What do you want
of it?"

"If you won't let me take it, let me go through it. There is something
in it I want."

"And what is that?" queried her husband.

"I don't know," replied Madam, very simply.

"You don't know?" roared Crazy Dutch.

"No, Otto, I don't know. The Yogis told me to come up and they told me
that when I went through the papers I would recognize some that I
wanted."

Von Minden turned appealingly to Roger and Ernest. "Have you any idea
what she's talking about?"

Ernest shook his head.

"Wouldn't you like to go