Sundown entered the
house and experimented with soda and cream-of-tartar as though he were
concocting a high explosive with proportions of the ingredients
calculated to produce the most satisfactory results. His plan,
however, was nipped in the bud. That night the herders refused to eat
the biscuits after tasting them.

Hi Wingle, coming from the bunk-house, wiped his hands on his apron,
rolled a cigarette, and squatted in the shade. From within came the
clatter of knives and forks and the rattle of dishes. The riders of
the Concho were about through dinner. Wingle, gazing down the road,
suddenly cast his cigarette away and rose. The road seemed empty save
for a lean brown shape that raced toward the Concho with sweeping
stride. "It's the dog. Wonder what's up now?"

Chance, his muzzle specked with froth and his tongue lolling, swung
into the yard and trotted to Wingle. "Boss git piled ag'in?" queried
the cook, patting Chance's head. "What you scratchin' about?"

The dog lay panting and occasionally pawing at his collar.

"What's the matter? Cockle-burr?" And Wingle ran his fingers under
the collar. "So? Playin' mail-man, eh?"

He spread out the note and read it. Slowly he straightened up and
slowly he walked to the bunk-house. "No. Guess I'll tell Jack first."

He strode to the office and laid the note on Corliss's desk. The
rancher, busy running up totals on the pay-roll, glanced at the
sweat-stained piece of paper. He read it and pushed it from him. "All
right, Hi."

Wingle hesitated, then stepped out and over to the bunk-house. "Takes
it mighty cool! Wonder what he's got up his sleeve. Somethin'--sure!"

Corliss studied the note. Then he reached for paper and envelopes and
wrote busily. One of the letters was to the sheriff in Antelope. It
was brief.

I'm going to push a bunch of stock over to the water-hole range. My
boys have instructions not to shoot. That's the best I can do for them
and the other side. JOHN CORLISS.

The other letter was to Nell Loring. Then he rose and buckled on his
gun. At the bunk-house he gave the letters to Lone Johnny, who saddled
and departed immediately.

Without making the contents of the note known, he told the men that
they would join Bud Shoop and his outfit at the Knoll and push the herd
north. Later he took Wingle aside and told him that he could stay and
look after the rancho.

The indignant Hi rolled down his sleeves, sp