“Say, boss,� he drawled, “I suppose you heard about the 8 X 8 bein’ visited?�
“A little, Gus,� Mr. Manley answered. “Man on the train told me. Do they know who the rustlers were?�
“Well, they got kind of an idee. There’s been other ranches missin’ stock in just the same way that the 8 X 8 lost theirs. They say the same gang does all the jobs.�
“They do, hey?â€� Mr. Manley considered. “I wonder—â€� He started, then stopped. Whatever was in his mind he kept to himself.
“Dad, are you figuring on stopping at Eagles?� Teddy called. “Maybe we can find out something more from one or two of the men there.�
“Don’t think so, son,� his father answered. “There’s a certain crowd that hangs out in Eagles that I don’t particularly hanker for. I guess you know who I mean.�
“There’s one bird I’d like to see again,� Teddy remarked slowly. “The puncher who was outside Rimor’s. He needs a lesson in politeness.�
Mr. Manley nodded.
“We may meet him again. Seemed to me he knew more than he wanted to tell. Still, he might have been just plain ugly. You can’t accuse a man of bein’ a rustler because he won’t answer questions.�
“Did some buckaroo answer you short?� Pop wanted to know, pushing his hat farther back on his head. “Who was it?�