, too. They were going to swindle some folks,
and Abe heard about it and gave the thing away. Abe won't stand for
anything that ain't strictly honest."

"Say, I want you to know----" commenced Sol Blugg, and tried to catch
hold of Mrs. Carmody again. But this time Dave was too quick for him. He
pushed the man back, turned him around, and sent him flying down the
steps to the street.

"Now, you go on!" he cried. "If you don't, you'll get into trouble!"

"That's what!" said Roger.

"Perhaps you'd like to be arrested," added Phil.

"Come on!" said Larry Jaley, in a low voice. "Come on, Sol. I told you
it wouldn't do any good to come here."

"I didn't expect to see them young fellers," growled the
leathery-looking man. "But I'm a-goin' to git square with Abe Blower,
jest wait an' see," he added, thickly; and then he and his companion
started up the street and around the first corner.

"The beasts!" murmured Mrs. Carmody, as she gazed after them. "I do wish
I had used the broom over Sol Blugg's head! Maybe it would have done him
good!"

"You know these men, then?" asked Dave.

"Oh, yes, and Abe knows 'em, too! It seems that, years ago, before I
came here, Abe used to train with those men, in the mining camps. But
they were a hard crowd, used to drinkin' and gamblin', and Abe gave 'em
up and went with men like Mr. Harrison, and Tom Dillon. That made Sol
Blugg and his crowd sore, and they often tried to do Abe harm. Now that
Abe queered that land swindle for 'em I suppose they are more sore than
ever. But I don't think they would have come here, only they have been
drinkin'."

"You had better keep on the lookout--they may come back," said Dave.

"I'll keep on guard, don't fear. I've got one of Abe's pistols in the
house, and a club, too. And I'll get that neighbor Abe spoke about to
stay with me," returned Mrs. Carmody. "But, say," she added, suddenly.
"You better keep on guard, too. 'Tain't no nice thing to run up against
that bunch, I can tell you that!"

"Yes, we'll have to be on the watch from the very moment we leave this
house," said Roger.

The boys talked for a few minutes longer with the old lady, getting what
information they could, and then hurried back to their hotel. On the way
they kept a sharp lookout for the leathery-looking man and his cronies,
but they did not show themselves.

It was an easy matter for them to find old Mr. Dillon, who was reading a
mining journal in the smoking-room. He lis