The caller shoved his weapon into its holster, and Stacy Brown drew a long breath of relief and then quickly stepped back a few paces.
“This man is no more a thief than you are!” exploded Bindloss. “He is one of my friends, and that’s all there is to it.”
“I got to take him back,” persisted Skip stubbornly.
“Listen to me, young fellow!” commanded Bindloss, who thereupon repeated the story that Chunky had told them, adding further information of his own.
“Thet’s what the critter told us back at the ranch. We reckoned he lied, an’ I reckon so too.”
“Drop thet talk!” warned Sam Conifer.
Joe Bindloss after some farther argument told the visitor that he would write a letter to Bill Crawley, owner of the Diamond Bar ranch, fully explaining the matter, but in no circumstances would Skip be permitted to take Stacy with him.
“And that’s flat!” finished the rancher sternly.
“Thet’s all right, Boss, but what ’bout this?” he demanded, exhibiting the lump that Stacy had left on the top of his head. “I got ter have satersfaction fer thet, I reckon.”
“I’ll hit it again if you say so,” offered Stacy, but the boy met a quick rebuke from his companions.