d man turned white
and began to tremble.

"Better stay behind," whispered Belding. "Dick's going to beat that
two-legged dog, and the rangers get excited when they're packing guns."

"I will not stay behind," replied Mr. Gale, stoutly. "I'll see this
affair through. Belding, I've guessed it. Richard is going to fight
the Chases, those robbers who have ruined you."

"Well, I can't guarantee any fight on their side," returned Belding,
dryly. "But maybe there'll be Greasers with a gun or two."

Belding stalked off to catch up with Dick, and Mr. Gale came trudging
behind with Thorne.

"Where will we find these Chases?" asked Dick of Belding.

"They've got a place down the road adjoining the inn. They call it
their club. At this hour Radford will be there sure. I don't know
about the old man. But his office is now just across the way."

They passed several houses, turned a corner into the main street, and
stopped at a wide, low adobe structure. A number of saddled horses
stood haltered to posts. Mexicans lolled around the wide doorway.

"There's Ben Chase now over on the corner," said Belding to Dick. "See,
the tall man with the white hair, and leather band on his hat. He sees
us. He knows there's something up. He's got men with him. They'll
come over. We're after the young buck, and sure he'll be in here."

They entered. The place was a hall, and needed only a bar to make it a
saloon. There were two rickety pool tables. Evidently Chase had
fitted up this amusement room for his laborers as well as for the use
of his engineers and assistants, for the crowd contained both Mexicans
and Americans. A large table near a window was surrounded by a noisy,
smoking, drinking circle of card-players.

"Point out this Radford Chase to me," said Gale.

"There! The big fellow with the red face. His eyes stick out a
little. See! He's dropped his cards and his face isn't red any more."

Dick strode across the room.

Belding grasped Mr. Gale and whispered hoarsely: "Don't miss anything.
It 'll be great. Watch Dick and watch Laddy! If there's any gun play,
dodge behind me."

Belding smiled with a grim pleasure as he saw Mr. Gales' face turn
white.

Dick halted beside the table. His heavy boot shot up, and with a crash
the table split, and glasses, cards, chips flew everywhere. As they
rattled down and the chairs of the dumfounded players began to slide
Dick called out: "My name is Gale. I'm looking