talkin' ter Pawnee Brown about it. An' Pawnee knows this
air Vorlange. The two air enemies from school days. Pawnee said
Vorlange wasn't squar nohow!"

"He is evidently in the employ of the government."

"Yes; a land-office spy, now workin' ag'in the boomers fer the cavalry
as intends ter keep us out of Oklahoma."

"It will be hard to bring such a man to justice, without some direct
evidence against him, Rasco."

"Don't yer try ter do it--yet, lad. Take my advice an' watch him. An'
afore yer come down on him yer hed better question yer father about
Vorlange."

At this Dick winced.

"Rasco, my father's manner is against him--I know that. But I'm certain
he never committed a crime in his life."

"I believes yer, Dick. Yer father's a gentleman, every inch o' him; I
seed thet the fust I clapped eyes on him. But knowin' the truth is one
thing an' provin' it is another, especially in the wild west. This air
Vorlange may hev yer father in a mighty tight hole, and if you show him
up as the thief who stole the deeds an' the money, he may turn on yer
dad and squeeze him mightily, see?"

"I see. But what shall I do just now?"

"Follow Vorlange and spy on to him all yer can. It ain't no ust ter
hurry matters, with your father flat on his back. Powell will remain
here and Vorlange will be with the cavalry, so yer will know whar ter
clap eyes on ter both of 'em if it's necessary."

A moment's reflection convinced Dick that this was sound advice, and he
said he would follow it, mentally resolved not to accuse Vorlange of
anything until he had gotten his parent to confess to the true state of
affairs.

By this time the boy and the man of the plains had left the veranda and
walked around to where Rasco had left his horse. A moment later they saw
Louis Vorlange hurry from the barroom of the hotel, leap upon his own
animal, and strike out of town in a westerly direction.

"If I had a horse I'd follow him," began Dick, when Rasco motioned the
youth to hop up behind. Soon they were riding after Vorlange, but not
close enough to allow the spy to imagine that he was being followed.

"If you go after him you'll get no chance to hunt up your niece," began
Dick, when the city was left behind.

"That's true, lad." Jack Rasco's face grew troubled. "I don't know
wot's best ter do. It ain't fair ter let yer follow Vorlange alone; an'
with only one hoss----hullo, wot does this mean? Carl Humpendinck, an'
wavin' his hand to us like