"Quick! Which horse?" said the detective.
"Whirlwind."
"I'll get him," said Waters, disappearing in the stable, but the next instant he came back to the door.
"Whirlwind is not here."
Merle seemed to start.
It was a mystery.
"Whirlwind is Belle Demona's horse, and she left the ranch some time ago."
"Left—Ranch Robin?" cried Merle.
"She rode away like the wind," answered Waters.
The rascal seemed to smile, but selected another horse, which in a little while was let forth, and he mounted under cover of Old Broadbrim's pistol.