Connie Carl at Rainbow Ranch

Ho

o ride by the holdup man. But an instant's reflection convinced her t

ver that money!" the

before. From the strained manner in which the man spo

she asked, sta

"I know you have it pinned inside your shirt

up as if to unpin the roll of money. But the thought o

the wind, she spurred her ho

zed the horse's bridle bringing him up s

ou don't!

side. Her determination to save the money at all cost ebbed

n jerked it f

ount!" he

ted and then

n the road. Then with a mock bow to Connie, he wheeled his own pony, and disappeared into

f the money she had won at the rodeo was gone! And likewise lost was the h

ad a long, discouraging walk ahead of her for the nea

ppened," Connie told herself bitterly as

knew the owners well although she had not seen them since her return from th

red beard, opened the door. For a

e?" she asked quickly. "

laimed the rancher. "Come right in.

agle Pass! I

honed the sheriff's office in Red Gulch, asking

," George Slocer promised. "That's the lowest tric

atching the man now," Connie said glum

look at him?" t

ark and he kept the hand

ecognize

size. I'm sure it must have been some man w

the money on your person. Do you remember

spoken to Jim Barrows. He had warned her that she was

shed the check at the rodeo office," she ende

her admitted, buckling on his gun belt. "But th

so that she might ride on to Rainbow Ranch

et her. The Mexican girl was relieved to see her young mistress, for som

e home," Connie said in reli

nd asked if the cowboys had return

eeling discouraged and fairly ill, she went to her own room. Marie ra

ie said gratefully. "Perhaps f

feel hungry. But rather than disappoint the Mexi

ives Monday and nothing will be ready for him. I've accepted his money so I can't t

low the girl at last fell asleep. She was so e

cowboys came to offer their sympathy. Later in the morning George Slocer rode in t

e said gloomily. "Perhaps it served me r

gainst the corral bars when

methin' we could do

without looking directly

ked up a tidy bit of money yesterday at the ro

answered. "I'm plumb ashamed to tell you but me and Al

ailment around Rainbow Ra

you ask J

onnie replied quickly. "Bes

saw him countin' a big roll t

fully. "He was stony broke when he came here, and he's not even

ht. He minds his own busi

f giving you and Jim new jobs. I suppose you've heard

t it, but I figgered you wouldn

eld up everything would have worked out beautifully. But now I'm in the business whe

ew job?" Lefty

u could take Mr. Postil riding and fishing. And we'll plan special

protest, but his voice trailed off

rom his recent humiliation at

tead of loafing around all morning," he

" Lefty muttered but he m

nnie, making no attempt

re you decided to turn this place into a dude ranch! Just how do you think we'll be abl

urned out all right if o

that the sixteenth of t

ed. "I realize that. There's no cha

for a moment. Then he

er occurred to you to

m? About his pe

ly. "But I wasn't referring to that. I meant about what he w

se at th

Blakeman said shortly. "I

ggest?" Connie asked. "I know y

. But there's no use trying to

m I'll certainly listen to it," Connie replied

make certain no one was within hea

crook! He was the masked man w