front of the house and walked up
the path.

As they were about to ascend the steps to the veranda they were stopped
by a voice.

"Halt! What do you want?"

"We want entrance to the house," said the major.

"You can't get in without an order from Deputy Marshal Burk," said the
voice behind the door.

"The deuce I can't!" growled the major, whose fighting blood was coming
up at this opposition. "Do you know who I am?"

"No, and it don't make no difference who you are. Them's my orders from
the chief."

"I am the brother of Miss Mowbray."

A silence followed this.

"Can't help it," said the voice again. "I can't let you in."

"Open that door instantly, or we'll break it in."

"If you try that you'll be sorry. I warn you, I am armed, and have
orders to shoot."

"Shoot, and be jiggered!" shouted the major, who was thoroughly angry by
this time, for he was not used to having his orders disobeyed.

"I will if you attempt to break into this house. If you get an order
I'll let you in. Without an order you get in only after I am down and
out."

"Stay here, major. I'll be back in a few minutes."

Ted Strong was angry also at the delay, and at once suspected that Burk,
the deputy marshal, had some sinister reason for putting the house in
charge of one of his men, but he could not imagine what it was unless
his purpose was not honest.

Ted's experience had taught him that all men in authority as deputy
United States marshals were not honest, and that they often used their
office to graft.

He had no faith in Burk, whose looks and actions he had distrusted at
their first meeting. If Burk knew that the broncho boys were in town it
would be sufficient excuse for him to annoy and impede their movements
all he could.

No doubt Burk knew that they would come to Rodeo in the interests of
Farnsworth, but he did not believe that the deputy marshal knew anything
of the newly discovered relationship between Major Caruthers, the dead
woman, and the so-called Farnsworth.

What, then, was his reason for holding the house and the remains of the
murdered woman against all comers?

There were two inferences: Loot of the woman's house, unprotected by
friends and relatives, and the awaiting of the woman's husband.

Ted had thought out these two possibilities thoroughly. He had no doubt
that there were many valuables in the house, for the woman was reputed
rich, secretive, and probably kept her personal property about her.