e thus determined--and
distances thus determined were nearly always inaccurate. The traveler
inquiring for his destination was expected to discover it somewhere in
the unknown distance.

The Two Diamond ranch had the enviable reputation of being
"slick"--which meant that Stafford was industrious and thrifty and that
his ranch bore an appearance of unusual neatness. For example,
Stafford believed in the science of irrigation. A fence skirted his
buildings, another ran around a large area of good grass, forming a
pasture for his horses. His buildings were attractive, even though
rough, for they revealed evidence of continued care. His ranchhouse
boasted a sloped roof and paved galleries.

A garden in the rear was but another instance of Stafford's industry.
He had cattle that were given extraordinary care because they were
"milkers," for in his youth Stafford had lived on a farm and he
remembered days when his father had sent him out into the meadow to
drive the cows home for the milking. There were many other things that
Stafford had not forgotten, for chickens scratched promiscuously about
the ranch yard, occasionally trespassing into the sacred precincts of
the garden and the flower beds. His horses were properly stabled
during the cold, raw days that came inevitably; his men had little to
complain of, and there was a general atmosphere of prosperity over the
entire ranch.

But of late there had been little contentment for the Two Diamond
manager. For six months cattle thieves had been at work on his stock.
The result of the spring round-up had been far from satisfactory. He
knew of the existence of nesters in the vicinity; one of
them--Radford--he had suspected upon evidence submitted by the range
boss. Radford had been warned to vacate Bear Flat, but the warning had
been disregarded.

But one other course was left, and Stafford had adopted that. There
had been no hesitancy on the manager's part; he must protect the Two
Diamond property. Sentiment had no place in the situation whatever.
Therefore toward Ferguson's movements Stafford adopted an air of
studied indifference, not doubting, from what he had seen of the man,
that he would eventually ride in and report that the work which he had
been hired to do was finished.

Toward the latter end of the week the wagon outfit straggled in. They
came in singly, in twos and threes, bronzed, hardy, seasoned young men,
taciturn, serene eyed, capable. They c