The Boy Ranchers; Or, Solving the Mystery at Diamond X

scene. He had been pursuing his way, whether peaceful or otherwise the boy ranchers could not determine, until he unexpecte

the moon coming out more clearly, revealed him to the boys and them to

ust over to your camp, to leave the st

ofessor, smoothly. "I am going ba

himself. And then the scientist s

nk you. It was very kind of you to help t

u never know when you're going to need help yourself, so

essor thoughtfully. "You found everything all r

ered Bud. "We left th

said you

ur road?" he asked the boys. "I mean doesn't your ranch

. "But we've got to loo

'riding herd,' as I

on boldly: "Some rustlers tried to haze thi

repeated the pr

e for him to come back. We thought you were Babe as you came along, but as soon a

e professor dryly, and with a little half smile, visible

rofessor's "purpose" was. However he did not seem inclined to disclose it

, again, for your kindness. I hop

as lost in the darkness, as a thicker cloud than

off in the gloom which had swallowed up the mysterious scie

for in that silent, dark open place voices carried a

e!" decla

t expect to see

t, "maybe he was one of the cattle rustlers, Bud! He circled around and rode back after he fo

he isn't the kind that rustles cattle. Cattle thieves don't make a permanent camp. They're wanderers-most

ing to do with trying to driv

anything in this world," half drawled

hose men ran that were driving away the ca

" said Bud. "Here

k ears had caught the faint sound of the horse's feet approaching, and in another moment Babe rode up f

e?" asked Bud

m. All right here?" he asked, though a look convin

Bud. "Did you meet the

was answer enough. But Bud went into particulars, telling ho

me!" declared Babe. "Migh

f the rustlers?" a

uess he wouldn't head back this way if he'd tried to run off some Diamond X

get anything, any

how many there ought to be in this bunch," and he looked over the small herd that had now settled quietly for the night. "But they didn't g

y as I have some tenderfeet with m

nt!" exclaimed Nort. "We ca

de out, and he may get a report on the rustlers, not knowing that we headed 'em off. So it's just as well for yo

rs rode Bud, Dick and Nort, leaving Babe in charge of the smal

d the advent of the three, with the story they told, created no little exciteme

particulars. "You fellows landed feet first right in

the city lads, much pleas

alled a midnight lunch that Mrs. Merkel set out for them in the cozy

ick. "I told your mother I'd look after you as I would Bud, if she'd let you come

re glad to go to bed without arguing, for

the sight Bud and the others had caught of a stray bunch of steers being hazed over toward the river, across which lay o

at day, the second of t

the cattleman warmly

ed, and in less than a week Nort and Dick felt that t

boys wore-chaps being in the nature of overalls, and affording much ne

awkward high-heeled boots to the broad-brimmed range hats, and

king dust, often strongly alkali, the squares, pulled u

s been any more trouble at the professo

a!" decla

rt of mentioning that he'd like to hear how the shot m

in the midst of which the camp lay. As they drew near Bud scanned the horizon for a

but what they'd

you mean?"

esn't seem to be

ns, broken boxes and the cold ashes of the fires. But over on the side of the hill, where there was an outcropping of red sandstone, curious marks showed. They we

it mean?"