ou've
got to do is to ride over there an' catch them."

Stafford's smile widened a little. "Sure," he returned, "that's all
I've got to do. An' I'm goin' to do it. But I'm wantin' my range boss
to take charge of the outfit that's goin' over to ketch them."

"Your range boss?" said Ferguson, a flash of interest in his eyes,
"Why, your range boss ain't here any more."

Stafford leaned forward, speaking seriously. "I'm talkin' to my range
boss right now!" he said significantly.

Ferguson started, and a tinge of slow color came into his face. He
drew a deep breath and took a step forward. But suddenly he halted,
his lips straightening again.

"I'm thankin' you," he said slowly. "But I'm leavin' the Two Diamond."
He drew himself up, looking on the instant more his old indomitable
self. "I'm carryin' out our contract though," he added. "If you're
wantin' me to go after them other two men, I ain't backin' out. But
you're takin' charge of the outfit. I ain't goin' to be your range
boss."

An hour later ten of the Two Diamond men, accompanied by Stafford and
the stray-man, loped their horses out on the plains toward the river.
It was a grim company on a grim mission, and the men forbore to joke as
they rode through the dust and sunshine of the afternoon. Ferguson
rode slightly in advance, silent, rigid in the saddle, not even
speaking to Stafford, who rode near him.

Half an hour after leaving the Two Diamond they rode along the crest of
a ridge of hills above Bear Flat. They had been riding here only a few
minutes when Stafford, who had been watching the stray-man, saw him
start suddenly. The manager turned and followed the stray-man's gaze.

Standing on a porch in front of a cabin on the other side of the flat
was a woman. She was watching them, her hands shading her eyes.
Stafford saw the stray-man suddenly dig his spurs into his pony's
flanks, saw a queer pallor come over his face. Five minutes later they
had ridden down through a gully to the plains. Thereafter, even the
hard riding Two Diamond boys found it difficult to keep near the
stray-man.

Something over two hours later the Two Diamond outfit, headed by the
stray-man, clattered down into a little basin, where Ferguson had seen
the cabin two days before. As the Two Diamond men came to within a
hundred feet of the cabin two men, who had been at work in a small
corral, suddenly dropped their branding irons and bolted toward the
cabin. But