“Well, any time you say so, I’ll go out with you to try to lay the bobcat low,” answered Dave.
CHAPTER X
WHAT THE GIRLS HAD TO TELL
Two days later Dave was hard at work with the others on the mountainside when a gang of six cowboys rode up. They were curious to know some particulars concerning the new railroad spur which was to be put through in that vicinity, and stopped to watch proceedings and to ask a number of questions.
“What ranch do you hail from, boys?” questioned Frank Andrews of the leader of the crowd, a tall, leathery-looking man of about forty.
“We’re from the Double Eight outfit,” was the answer, as the fellow pulled a sheet from a book of papers he carried, filled it with some loose tobacco from a pouch, and proceeded to roll himself a cigarette.
“The Double Eight, eh?” exclaimed the civil engineer. “That is interesting. I think one of my young men here would like to ask you a few questions, if you wouldn’t mind.”
“All right, pard, shoot away,” answered the cowboy calmly, as he began to puff at his cigarette.
Frank Andrews lost no time in summoning Dave, who was some distance up the trail, and told our hero where the cowboy hailed from.
“I believe you have a fellow staying with you who calls himself Jasper Nicholas,” began Dave.
“We did have a feller with that handle down to our outfit,” responded the cowboy. “But he got fired some days ago.”