Mason of Bar X Ranch

ling silently to the corral, he quickly roped and saddled one of the horses. It was MacNutt, and had any of the cowboys seen his face at that moment they would have been amazed. All trace of

nt. Whatever MacNutt's mission was, the man was going heavily armed. He rode leisurely as though f

riding with all the ease and grace of a cowboy. Ten miles from Bar X ranch the

point, he chose the trail

spread over t

poke softly to his horse, "none of the Bar X outfit take me seriously, only

reach the ranch in time to keep an appointment. Time and distance passed swiftly beneath his horse's pounding hoofs, a

red and with it the awkward poise and drooping shoulders of the man MacNutt. Altho

mptly ordered to hold the rider up at any cost. Since the last time Ricker had been visited by the cowboys of the Bar X ra

the post, his eyes fell on one of his cowboys, Tug Conners by name, and he was placed about

man that MacNutt would have to pass muster. The guard set himself and studied the rider through his glasses. Th

time in disgust. Seizing the glasses again he tried to make out who the stranger was

was with the sheriff when they made that call on Ricker. He looks like

sheriff's cowboys, and he would have started trouble with any of them at the slight

with a half-wit, so he determined to throw

MacNutt came abreast his place of concealmen

eyes glittering savagely, "I reckon this i

such a look of dismay spread over his fea

ext commanded him, keeping the

akes me nervous," protested MacNutt in a tr

rcasm. "Well, it will go off mighty sudden if you don't answer my questions righ

his nerve again, the foolis

," he protested in his droll voic

ptor snarled, raising

g blandly, his hands

e simplicity. "Met him at the Post yesterday. He ain't got no more use for the Bar

at him in

y you met yesterday?" he quest

e were slopped up a little, but I can describe him." Thi

ed tone when MacNutt had finished his desc

uld have noticed that not a single item of the plans of the buildings or out-houses of the ranch had escaped MacNutt's notice. Although his eyes held their dull sleepy

" he demanded, with a su

rry and wants to see him

scowled

and see if he knows this fellow," he ord

ned in company

" Ricker question with a wav

ight," the man Jean answered w

ed immensel

sible for him. We are going to have rifle and revolver practice in a few minutes, maybe your

ack to his post. At the ranch he was presented to Waneda the Spanish girl and to the cook, an old Negress. It was his first opportunity to se

after saying he was going to help set up target

Negress, she being quite deaf. MacNutt had again thrown off his assumed role of a half-wit and was alert a

t first glance, and you have a good face. Now, I wish to clear my mind on one point: did you know the contents of t

, her eyes searching his fac

ce gre

t," he said kindly, "still, that very note came near getti

r lips. With a quick move

s he in danger

sed her hold and pla

his is no place for you, and I am going to get you out of here, but before that

here for? And this target shoot is for a purpose, too. I think I can trust you not to betray me, and you a

thoroughly

ick gasps. "If Ricker finds out that you are against

and interrupted his talk with the girl. A lightning

he men at the shoot," MacNutt said rapidly in

n the same hurried manner t

and looked grav

" she repeate

and if Jean Barry tells you to leave this place at a certain time you must obey him, for he is working with me. If Jean comes to you for

of the men and especially of Ricker; he wants me to marry him and I hate him. The old Negress here has protected me from him many a time when he had been drinking. I wanted to leave here long ago, but I am afraid to leave for Ricker

him while talking and h

oath escaped fro

re, and maybe in a few days. Ricker is engaged in some lawless business besides mere cattle raising. He ha

to the girl, MacNutt strolled leisurely o

y by the cowboys, save by Ricker, who was again regarding him sharply. MacNutt returne

" Jean Barry

ou for some reason and may

ver to him. The man called by Ricker was his foreman, Jim Haley, the most expert shot on the

arry been with us?" Ricke

written on his face, Jim Haley the forema

kon," he replied, glancin

Ricker's brow

n MacNutt, keep your eye on him also. He claimed to the guard that he isn't friendly with the Bar X outfit and has a grievance against them. I can't just make him out, and I want you to trail him af

h the men and directed the rules of the target practice. MacNutt was

sed close to hi

man that Ricker was just tal

t seventy-five yards and each man was to fire six shots apiece. The men fired in turn, each scoring fair hits, until Ricker and Jim Haley's turn came. When they had

this one over, Jim," he

it bothered his vanity to have his mark equall

e finally

e," Ricker ordered briskly, "and put up another one; we

ie off, the former winning

y to take a position. A titter ran through the group of cowboys as they watched h

denly step

ecord for him. We'll show him some shootin

scoring almost the

e with you today, Jim," Ricker

he bull's-eye, firing with a

fit can equal that," he boasted

wore his goo

drawled, "but I

sion went up f

, you tenderfoot,"

blended together. All the cowboys were grinning broadly, for it looked as though MacNutt had fired at random. Their

announced as though

swore r

out impatiently, "that m

tion went up from the cowboys when it was seen that MacNutt's bullets

" Jim Haley sp

cker questioned MacNutt sharply. "Can you do

grinned

owly. "I've shot a revolver and

leave after saying a few words in an undertone to his friend Jean Barry. The cowboys watched him

ers had held him up, he saw the guard le

you see one of our men at the Post, tell him to hurry up for I sent him to bring me some tobacco." "I s

r when I call on you next time, my friend," he

me private business and making a few necessary purchases. As he mounted his horse f

sed, a grin playing over his feat

n sight. Seeing no signs of the animal he decided t

dent and riding fast he arri

ountered after putting

at him with a

uble game. Yesterday, I saw you talking in very friendly terms with one of the cowboys from the Ricker ranch. Several other little things have happened since you came

vely while Mason was talki

here for a good purpose and am working for the interest of the Bar X people and you in particular. I take you to be a man of sound judgment and give you my word of honor that I

to be," Mason answered