"Not yet. Think I better?"
"Of course. What's the use in taking chances?"
"I suppose you're right, but I bet he'll laugh at the idea. Remember, all I've got to go on is his voice."
It happened that Jeb joined them at that moment and Bob told him all about it. Jeb's face was very thoughtful while he was telling the story and when he had finished, he said:
"I think you must be mistaken, Bob, but I'm glad you told me. There's no doubt that he's Los Varney all right, but it's not at all impossible that you may be right. It's a long time ago that I knew him and we were together for a year or more, but I've lost track of him since then and he may have gone wrong although, frankly, I don't think so. However we'll keep an eye open and 'forewarned is forearmed' you know."
"He didn't laugh anyhow," Jack declared as soon as they were alone again.
Three days went by. Los Varney proved that he had made no idle boast when he had said that he could do most anything. The man was a splendid rider and roper, and a good mixer with the boys who seemed to like him from the very first. Bob could not see that he displayed any more interest in Royce than was perfectly natural for one of his make up. He seemed naturally sympathetic and appeared anxious to cheer the boy up whenever occasion offered. But that was all.
But there was one member of the household who did not like Los Varney.
"He's a snake in the grass," Sue told Bob before Los had been with them a day.
"What makes you say that?" Bob asked her.