“Spell it backwards and you’ll soon see!”
For a moment there was silence. Nick’s head bobbed up and down, his tongue on his lower lip as he figured it to himself. Gus and Bug Eye struggled manfully, but had to wait until Mr. Manley shouted:
“Rustler! That’s it, sure as shootin’! Teddy, you’re a genius! It’s rustler turned around!”
“I always thought that bozo was a little balmy,” Pop Burns declared, when the matter was explained to him. “Now I know it! Snakes, it’s a wonder he doesn’t walk backwards! Huh! Rustler, hey? Guess he’s had enough action for a while, anyhow. He can think up new names fer himself while he’s sittin’ in jail—an’ if you take my advice, that won’t be at Hawley, boss!”
With a laugh, Mr. Manley agreed. Then he glanced fondly at his two sons, who had, together with their friends, brought this Reltsur to justice and had rescued Belle and the others from his clutches.
But the ranch boys were to have other happenings, and the further adventures of Roy and Teddy will be told in the next volume, to be called: “The X Bar X Boys on Whirlpool River.”
Teddy, leaning forward, whispered to Ethel. She nudged Belle and Nell, and, casually, the three girls walked away from the little group surrounding Bug Eye, who had continued his demonstration.
In a few moments the boys followed and met the girls near the corral. It was the work of but a few moments to saddle Flash and Star and three other ponies.
Softly they rode out of the yard. If any one saw them, they gave no sign. Once behind the corral Teddy leaped Flash forward.
“Let’s go!” he yelled. “To that stump out there! See it? Come on!”