CHAPTER VIII

“Take it easy, boys,” Teddy chuckled. “Pop, go on with your story. You were saying—”

“Talk to these bow-legged skillet-curlers? Not me! I wouldn’t waste breath on ’em. Maybe when round-up time comes they won’t be quite so chipper. I’ve known buckets to welch before this.”

“Here’s one that won’t,” Nick declared. “Go ahead, rave on, old man! Now, Teddy, I think we were talkin’ business when so rudely interrupted. About those cattle—”

“What we came over here for was to get some dope on the rodeo,” Roy broke in. “While we’ve seen ’em, of course, we’ve never been in any. Teddy and I are going to have a try for some of the prizes.”

“Rodeo? Listen, brother!” Pop exclaimed. “I’ll give you the low down on them events. There’s one thing you want to be careful of—steer bulldoggin’. There’s nothin’ in it, an’ it’s too dangerous. It ain’t worth the trouble. Now wild cow milkin’—there’s somethin’ for your money! I used to be a great little milker myself. One time, down San Antonio way, I milked a—”

“Dad told us about it,” Teddy laughed. “He said you—”

“If he told you, there’s no use repeatin’ it,” Pop said hurriedly. He appeared somewhat taken aback. Roy wondered what his interpretation of the occasion would have been. “But anyway,” he continued, “that’s great sport.”

“We were thinking of entering that,” Roy explained. “That, and trick riding and bronco busting. Maybe pony express. Dad says he’s coming to watch us.”

“Try an’ keep the boss away,” Gus chuckled. “Especially with his sons ridin’. When you boys gonna practice?”

“Every day, from now on,” Teddy declared. “Any suggestions will be appreciated. Pop, we’re counting on you to help us out.”

“Any time, boys, any time. ’Bout three years since I went to a cowboy reunion, but I guess I ain’t forgotten.”

“How many years?” Nick inquired, with a grin.

“Three, I said! Well, maybe a little longer. But, anyway, I’d like to see a prize or two come to the X Bar X. Ain’t had any since yore dad was in the ring. He was the one who could nab ’em! Don’t suppose he said much about how many he won. Most likely told about the ones he missed up on. Right?”

“That’s right,” Teddy laughed. “No wonder he was anxious to have Roy and me cash in for a prize. Well, we’ll do the best we can. Now there’s something else I—that is, Roy and I—want to talk about. Nick, what do you know about the Lefton brothers?”

“Nothin’ more than I told you, Teddy, except that I didn’t take to ’em much. When you told me they was pallin’ with Mob Jamisson I wasn’t much surprised.”

“Uh-huh.” Teddy nodded understandingly. “Roy, here, heard some funny remarks they made when they didn’t think he was listening. Did he tell you?”

“Told him most of it,” Roy said. “You know—about the cars and the eight mile grade, and the rest of it. You couldn’t make much out of it, could you, Nick?”

“Nothin’ at all. But—”

“Eight miles from where?” Pop interrupted.

“Maybe from the Jarmey place. That mean anything?”

“Well, not exactly,” Pop said slowly. “That Jarmey place is an old station that used to be a shipping point. Only thing it’s good for now is to keep rats in. An’ there’s plenty of them. Say, who was this geezer what wants the six hundred head, Teddy?”

“Peterson, his name is. Peter Peterson, I think. Ever hear of him?”

“Never did. He must be new on the job. Like as not he’s an agent for a Chi. firm. They have men in this section nearly all the time now. Hope the boss makes a good deal with him.”

“Dad says he offered two dollars a head more than any of the other buyers,” Roy declared. “Didn’t even try to get a lower rate. But that may be his way of doing business—knows what he wants and goes after it. We won’t kick about that. Still, that forfeit idea is a new wrinkle—at least, for our ranch. Gus, and the rest of you, see if you can get any dope on him, will you? Ask Jules and Nat Raymond. If you hear anything, let us know.”

Teddy and Roy had thought to inquire more about the Lefton brothers and to ask Nick’s opinion of them. But with the introduction of an added topic—concerning Peterson—the new interest overtopped the old one, so far as cattle buying went. It was now important that Peterson be given consideration.

Gus, who was to go to town to-morrow, promised to make inquiries about Peterson.

“Chances are I won’t hear anything, though. He must be representing an Eastern firm. Two dollars more a head than the others, hey? Must be made of money.”

“But we ought to find out something of his qualifications,” Roy objected. “Certainly, they’ll know about him at the freight office. He said he’s been in this business a number of years. Tried to give dad advice.” Roy smiled. “Dad took him for a little ride, but Peterson didn’t know it.”

Teddy and Roy were to make a trip to Red Rock the next day, to look over the territory where the six hundred head were to be driven. So after a little more talk with Nick and the other hands they sought their beds.

They started for Red Rock early. Flash had entirely recovered from the slight sprain he had received in the flight from the wolves, and he whinnied with the joy of living when Teddy headed him toward the open range.

“Running well, isn’t he?” Roy remarked, as, riding close to his brother, he watched Flash’s feet tap the ground.

“Sure is! I’m depending on him to help us cop a prize at the rodeo. And, believe me, Star is no slouch either!” He motioned with his elbow toward Roy’s pony. “With these two, we ought to get something.”

Roy grinned, and the two rode on. The chill of the fall morning had given way to the warmth of Indian summer. Ahead of them a jack-rabbit scurried across the path. The mountains gleamed green and white beneath the early sun. In the distance a river threaded its way between banks of quakermasts and evergreens.

Roy breathed deep of the tonic air.

“It’s good,” he said simply, “just to be here.”

Teddy did not laugh. He, too, was beginning to realize more of life. There had been a time, not long ago, when this remark would have brought a smile to his face. But now he thought seriously that it was good to be here. Thus, quickly, youth comes into its heritage. But humor is not diminished. Rather, it is increased.

The two brothers had been long together. They had been through many trials and dangers. Between two such a bond, firm, unbreakable, is established. There was no selfishness in either one. If occasion came, one would cheerfully, willing, offer his life for the other.

Both seemed to feel something of this sentiment as they rode the range toward Red Rock. They had, of course, been vividly reminded of it that day they had been menaced by the wolves. Perhaps they were thinking of this, for it was some moments before either spoke. But youth is buoyant, not introspective. The mood passed. And when Teddy, apropos of nothing, declared that Bug Eye would see many a day go by before Mrs. Ball let him try his inventions near her flower bed again, Roy laughed.

“Poor Bug Eye! He always manages to get in wrong. Remember his Fishmobile? Wonder what happened to that? And the time he got interested in hypnotism, and Pop let him think he had him hypnotized. I’ll never forget that.”

“Me, either. Bug Eye thought sure he had him under his spell. Then Pop showed him up. Say, how far is it to Red Rock?”

“Plenty far. Lucky there are no steep hills on the way. Reckon we might as well choose this route to drive those cattle over. Peterson wants to give us all the trouble he can, I reckon. Be much simpler to take ’em to Eagles, as we’ve always done. We’ll earn that two bucks a head extra, I’m thinking. He must have had this journey in mind when he made the offer.”

“Uh-huh. Maybe, and maybe not. He was a fish, that man. I hate to talk about another behind his back, and especially when I’ve only seen him once, but—well, I just don’t like him!”

“You and me both. But, as dad said, you can’t afford to let your liking interfere with business.”

“Dad didn’t say that. I did. It’s true. So we’ll forget Peterson till we learn something about him. Perhaps Gus will have found out from the boys in town what kind of a man he is.”

“I doubt it. But we’ll let the matter rest, anyhow. What we want to do is to select the best way to take the cattle to Red Rock, and this looks like it. Let’s get a wiggle on.”

They urged their horses forward, and finally came into sight of Red Rock. The town itself was much like Eagles, but smaller. The railroad station was the center, and as they rode in the boys saw that a large corral opened out at the rear of the depot. They looked over this well, and decided that, after all, they might not have much more trouble in bringing the cattle here than they would in bringing them to Eagles.

“Not as many people to bother us, at any rate,” Teddy declared, and he halted his pony in the center of the dusty main street. “Three stores and a row of houses back there. Looks like a deserted village.”

“Not quite deserted,” Roy said in a low voice. “Look there.”

Teddy swung around. Three men had just stepped from behind the corner of the station. They were talking earnestly, and did not see either Teddy or Roy.

As they came closer Teddy uttered an exclamation.

“The Lefton brothers—and look who’s with them!”

It was Peter Peterson, the man with whom their father had, only yesterday, closed a contract.

“Let ’em see us,” Roy suggested quietly. “There’s something queer about this.”

Snatches of the talk drifted toward the waiting boys.

“—plenty of cars”—“easy to get”—“only an eight mile run—”

“What the mischief—” Teddy began, when he was interrupted by the roar of a train pulling in at the station. As the three men heard it they turned hurriedly and ran for the platform. Another moment, and they had entered one of the cars, leaving Teddy and Roy staring after them. With a shrill whistle the train puffed away from the station.