Jeb had left for town shortly after breakfast and returned late in the afternoon. That he was in a perturbed state of mind was easily seen.
"I don't know what we're coming to," he said as he came up on the porch.
"Smatter, Pop?" Sue, who was lying in a hammock reading a story aloud to the boys, asked.
"Fellow by the name of Harris lost over two hundred head last night. He lives over the other side of the town and has one of the richest and best ranches in the State. I tell you things are hot in town, and the way folks are razzing Skeets is a caution. He'll simply have to do something mighty quick or resign his job. The ranchers won't stand for it much longer. Sometimes I wonder if he isn't in cahoots with Hains in some way."
"Do you mean it, Dad?"
"Oh, I don't know whether I do or not. I always thought he was honest till lately but I don't see how a man can be sheriff and get away with as little stuff as he does."
Bob and Jack had a long conference together earlier in the afternoon and half decided on a plan, but Jeb's account of the robbery the night before so far away from the ranch had put a different light on things.
"The most of the gang must have been over there last night," Bob said as they met out in the big barn shortly before supper time.
"Then they probably left someone behind to signal Los," Jack suggested.
"Guess there's no doubt about that."