"I can't feel much faith in him, but it may be he has found who the guilty ones are."
"I don't believe it," replied Fred, stoutly; "for, when he declares that Bud had nothing to do with it, I know he is wrong. Suppose I had taken out this knife and told him all about it, what would he have said?"
"It wouldn't have changed his opinion, for he is one of those men whose opinions are set and very difficult to change. He is confident he is right, and we shall know what it all means in a short time."
"Perhaps I will find out something to-morrow."
"More than likely you will fail altogether——"
To the surprise of both, they heard the gate open and shut again, another series of hastening steps sounded upon the gravel, and in a moment a quick, nervous rap came upon the door.
"Archie has come back to tell us the rest of his story," said Fred, springing up to answer the summons; "I thought he couldn't go away without letting us know——"
But the lad was mistaken, for, when he opened the door, who should he see standing before him but Cyrus Sutton, the cattle drover, and the intimate friend of Bud Heyland?
He smiled pleasantly, doffed his hat, bowed and apologized for his intrusion, adding:
"I am sure you hardly expected me, and I only came because it was necessary that I should meet you both. Ah!"