"There, there, son, we all make mistakes and you shall have a chance right here to make good," Jeb assured him, laying a kindly hand on his shoulder.
"You're better to me than I deserve, sir," he sobbed, "but if you'll only give me a chance I'll try so hard."
"Then it's settled. You are on the payroll of the Lazy S."
"But you must not pay me anything, at least until I'm worth it."
"Well, we won't fight over that," Jeb told him kindly.
"It is something that I'll never forget and I'll make good."
"Of course, you will."
It developed that Royce knew nothing more about Red Hains and his gang than he had already told them. He had never been to their rendezvous and had no idea where it was.
"I don't think Hains trusted me fully," he told them, "and he, as well as the others, were careful not to talk about their business when I was around. Guess I was kind of on probation."
"But did you never hear him say anything about this ranch?" Jeb asked him.