Saxton got up and walked the floor.
"Look here, Warry, did you ever know a one-eyed man?"
"I'm afraid not, except the traditional Cyclops."
"It has just occurred to me that I have seen such a man since I came to this part of the country; but the circumstances were peculiar. This thing is queerer than ever as I think of it."
"Well?"
"It was back at the Poindexter place when I first went there. A fellow named Snyder was in charge. He had made a rats' nest of the house, and resented the idea of doing any work. He seemed to think he was there to stay. Wheaton had given him the job before I came. I remember that I asked Wheaton if it made any difference to him what I did with the fellow. He didn't seem to care and I bounced him. That was two years ago and I haven't heard of him since."
Raridan drew the smoke of a cigarette into his lungs and blew it out in a cloud.
"Who's at the Poindexter place now?"
"Nobody; I haven't been there myself for a year or more."
"Is it likely that fellow is at the bottom of this, and that he has made a break for the ranch house? That must be a good lonesome place out there."