"Maybe the International firm bribed them, or maybe one of their men was disguised as a cowboy," suggested Mr. DeVere.
"That's possible," admitted Russ.
"Well, we'll soon find out," declared Baldy. "Come on, boys. Grub up and then we'll ride over."
The visit to Double X ranch proved fruitless, however, except in one particular. The cowboys attached to that "outfit" easily proved that they had not been near the camp of the picture makers.
"But there was one fellow who rode with us," said the foreman. "He was a stranger to us. Looked to be a cow-puncher, and said he was, from down New Mexico way. He was with us when we were at your place, and when we rode away he branched off. It might have been him."
"I'm sure it was," declared Mr. Pertell. "Now, how can we get hold of him?"
But that was a question no one could answer, and though several of the cowboys took the trail after the stranger, he was not to be found. The missing film seemed to have disappeared for good.
It was a great loss, but there was no help for it, and plans were made to go through the big scene again, though not until later.
"I have something else I want filmed now," said Mr. Pertell. "We will make that 'lost' scene we spoke of last night and then try a novelty."
"Something new?" asked Mr. Bunn. "I hope I don't have to be lassoed again," for that had been his most recent "stunt."