"Humph! A nice way to treat a letter of importance," muttered Sack Todd. He gave Tom another close look. "Who told you your dad was coming here?"
"Oh, I guessed that," drawled Tom.
"Come in the house. I must question your father about this."
"I didn't mean no harm, Mr. Todd!" cried the youth in pretended alarm.
"Ain't it all' right?"
"Yes. Come in."
Sack Todd pushed Tom toward the doorway of the ranch, and the youth went inside. He looked around for the government official, but that individual was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is Bill Cashaw?" asked the ranch owner of two men who were present.
"I don't know—getting something to drink, I reckon," answered one of the men. "He was standing around a minute ago."
"Sit down here," said Sack Todd, turning to Tom and at the same time motioning to a chair. "I'll be back in a minute."
He disappeared through a doorway and the fun-loving Rover sat down. He was in no easy frame of mind, for he could plainly see that the letter had disturbed the ranch owner greatly and that the man was suspicious.