"He went up the crick yesterday," returned Rope, looking quickly at the stray-man.
"Went alone, I reckon?"
"With Tucson." Rope was trying to conceal his interest in these questions.
But apparently Ferguson's interest was only casual. He turned a quizzical eye upon Rope. "You an' Tucson gettin' along?" he questioned.
"Me an' him's of the same mind about one thing," returned Rope.
"Well, now." Ferguson's drawl was pregnant with humor. "You surprise me. An' so you an' him have agreed. I reckon you ain't willin' to tell me what you've agreed about?"
"I'm sure tellin'," grinned Rope. "Me an' him's each dead certain that the other's a low down horse thief."
The eyes of the two men met fairly. Both smiled.
"Then I reckon you an' Tucson are lovin' one another about as well as me an' Leviatt," observed Ferguson.
"There ain't a turruble lot of difference," agreed Rope.