“You stay there. I’ll be back in a minute,� Mr. Manley called over his shoulder. “I want to see what I can find out about this.�
In a moment he was out of sight behind the freight shed. The two boys wanted to go with him, but Roy mentioned to Teddy that they had been told to stay where they were.
“I hope dad doesn’t get into a scrap,� murmured the older lad.
“I don’t reckon he will,� remarked Bug Eye. “But if he does, all he needs is to sing out, an’ we’ll all come runnin’!�
The anxiety of Teddy and Roy was soon at an end, for in a few minutes their father re-appeared. He looked tired and dusty, but there was a grim smile on his face.
“Some of the railroad men down at the corral saw ’em,� Mr. Manley reported to his sons. “There were three fellows leading our three horses away.�
“Why didn’t they stop ’em?� Roy wanted to know.
“They didn’t have any cause to, son. Thought the men owned the horses, as was natural. Those fellows didn’t wear any brand to let folks know they were rustlers.�
“No, I reckon not,� agreed Teddy slowly.
“Did you find out which way they went?� asked Roy eagerly.