"Stay here, major. I'll be back in a few minutes."
Ted Strong was angry also at the delay, and at once suspected that Burk, the deputy marshal, had some sinister reason for putting the house in charge of one of his men, but he could not imagine what it was unless his purpose was not honest.
Ted's experience had taught him that all men in authority as deputy United States marshals were not honest, and that they often used their office to graft.
He had no faith in Burk, whose looks and actions he had distrusted at their first meeting. If Burk knew that the broncho boys were in town it would be sufficient excuse for him to annoy and impede their movements all he could.
No doubt Burk knew that they would come to Rodeo in the interests of Farnsworth, but he did not believe that the deputy marshal knew anything of the newly discovered relationship between Major Caruthers, the dead woman, and the so-called Farnsworth.
What, then, was his reason for holding the house and the remains of the murdered woman against all comers?
There were two inferences: Loot of the woman's house, unprotected by friends and relatives, and the awaiting of the woman's husband.
Ted had thought out these two possibilities thoroughly. He had no doubt that there were many valuables in the house, for the woman was reputed rich, secretive, and probably kept her personal property about her. From what the major had said the husband, Mowbray, evidently had been cast off by Helen Mowbray on account of his rascalities, and, being a bird of prey, would swoop down upon her property as soon as he learned of her death.
Could it be that Burk was holding the house awaiting Mowbray's arrival?
With these thoughts running through his mind Ted had gone around to the back of the house to find, if possible, something with which to smash in the door.