"All right, I'll talk business with both," he said. "Who is this?" and he jerked his thumb toward Noel.
"A friend of ours from New York," replied Paul.
"Humph! Didn't know you had friends so far off."
"We don't know everything in this world," retorted Chet, pointedly.
"You're right, we don't," replied the captain with equal emphasis.
He tied his horse fast to the doorpost and strode into the house. Paul motioned Chet to follow, and then buttonholed Noel Urner.
"This is Captain Grady," he whispered. "We have told you a little about him. He is trying to get this ranch away from us."
"And he has no real claim to it?"
"I do not believe he has. But he is so slippery a customer he will swindle us if he can. Will you give us some advice how best to proceed? You know more about claims and legal papers than we do."
"Certainly I'll do what I can for you," and then both entered the ranch home.