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window winked after them。 They missed Rodway's by a scant hundred yards； and
didn't know it； because the side of the house next them had no lighted
windows。 They traveled in a wide； half circle； and thought that they were
leaving a straight trail behind them。 More than once Rowdy was urged by his
aching arm to drop the lead…rope and leave Chub to shift by himself； but
habit was strong and his heart was soft。 Then he felt an odd twitching at
the lead…rope； as if Chub were minded to rebel against their leadership。
Rowdy yanked him into remembrance of his duty； and wondered。 Bill Brown's
question came insistently to mind； he wondered the more。
Two minutes and the lead…rope was sawing against the small of his back
again。 Rowdy turned Dixie's head； and spoke for the first time in an hour。
〃My packhorse seems to have an idea about where he wants to go；〃 he said。 〃I
guess we might as well follow him as anybody； he ain't often taken with a
rush of brains to the head。 And we can't be any worse lost than we are now；
can we？〃
Miss Conroy said no dispiritedly； and they swung about and followed Chub's
leadership apathetically。 It took Chub just five minutes to demonstrate that
he knew what he was about。 When he stopped； it was with his nose against a
corral gate； not content with that； he whinnied； and a new； exultant note
was in the sound。 A deep…voiced dog bayed loudly； and a shrill yelp cut in
and clamored for recognition。
Miss Conroy gasped。 〃It's Lion and Skeesicks。 We're at Rodway's； Mr。
Vaughan。〃
Rowdy； for the second time； thanked the Lord。 But when he was stripping the
pack off Chub's back； ten minutes later； he was thinking many things he
would not have cared to say aloud。 It might be all right； but it sure was
strange； he told himself； that Chub belonged here at Rodway's when Harry
Conroy claimed that he was an Oregon horse。 Rowdy had thought his account
against Harry Conroy long enough； but it looked now as though another item
must be added to the list。 He went in and ate his supper thoughtfully； and
when he got into bed he did not fall asleep within two minutes； as he might
be expected to do。 His last conscious thought was not of stolen horses；
however。 It was： 〃And she's Harry Conroy's sister！ Now； what do you think of
that？ But all the same； she's sure a nice little schoolma'am。〃
CHAPTER 3
Rowdy Hires a New Boss。
Next morning； after breakfast； Mr。 Rodway followed Vaughan out to the
stable； and repeated Bill Brown's question。
〃I'd like to know where yuh got this horse；〃 he began； with an apologetic
sort of determination in his tone。 〃He happens to belong to me。 He was run
off with a bunch three years ago； and this is the first trace anybody has
ever got of 'em。 I see the brand's been worked。 It was a Roman fourthat's
my brand； now it looks like a map of Texas； but I'd swear to the
horseraised him from a colt。〃
Rowdy had expected something of the sort； and he knew quite well what he was
going to do； he had settled that the night before； with the memory of Miss
Conroy's eyes fresh in his mind。
〃I got him in a deal across the line；〃 he said。 〃I was told he came from
east Oregon。 But last night； when he piloted us straight to your corral
gate； I guessed he'd been here before。 He's yours； all right； if you say
so。〃
〃Uh course he ain't worth such a pile uh money； apologized Rodway； 〃but the
kids thought a heap of him。 I'd rather locate some of the horses that was
with himor the man yuh got him of。 They was some mighty good horses run
out uh this country then； but they was all out on the range； so we didn't
miss 'em in time to do any good。 Do yu know who took 'em across the line？〃
〃No；〃 said Rowdy deliberately。 〃The man I got Chub from went north； and I
heard he got killed。 I don't know of any other in the deal。〃
Rodway grunted； and Vaughan began vigorously brushing Dixie's roughened
coat。 〃If you don't mind；〃 he said； after a minute； 〃I'd like to borrow Chub
to pack my bed over to the Cross L。 I can bring him back again。〃
〃Why； sure！〃 assented Rodway eagerly。 〃I hate to take him from yuh； but the
kids〃
〃Oh； that's all right；〃 interrupted Rowdy cheerfully。 〃It's all in the game；
and I should 'a' looked up his pedigree； for I knew。 Anyway； was worth the
price of him to have him along last night。 We'd have milled around till
daylight； I guess； only for him。〃
〃That's what；〃 agreed Rodway。 〃Jessie's horse is one she brought from home
lately； and he ain't located yet； I dunno as he'd 'a' piloted her home。
Billythat's what the kids named himwas born and raised here； yuh see。
I'll bet he's glad to get backand the kids'll be plumb wild。〃
Rowdy did not answer； there seemed nothing in particular to say； and he was
wondering if he would see Miss Conroy before he left。 She had not eaten
breakfast with the others； from their manner； he judged that no one expected
her to。 He was not well informed upon the subject of schoolma'ams； but he
had a hazy impression that late rising was a distinguishing
characteristicand he did not know how late。 He saddled leisurely； and
packed his bed for the last time upon Chub。 The red…and…yellow Navajo
blanket he folded tenderly； with an unconscious smile for the service it had
done； and laid it in its accustomed place in the bed。 Then； having no
plausible excuse for going back to the house； he mounted and rode away into
the brilliant white world； watching wistfully the house from the tail of his
eye。
She might have got up in time to see him off； he thought discontentedly； but
he supposed one cowpuncher more or less made little difference to her。
Anyway； he didn't know as he had any license to moon around her。 She
probably had a fellow； she might even be engaged； for all he knew。 Andshe
was Harry Conroy's sister； and from his experience with the breed； good
looks didn't count for anything。 Harry was good…looking； and he was a snake；
if ever there was one。 He had never expected to lie for himbut he
had done it； all right and because Harry's sister happened to have nice
eyes and a pretty little foot！
He had half a mind to go back and tell Rodway all he knew about those
horses； it was only a matter of time； anyway； till Harry Conroy overshot the
mark and got what was coming to him。 He sure didn't owe Harry anything； that
he had need to shield him like he had done。 Still； Rodway would wonder why
he hadn't told it at first； and that little girl believed in Harry； and said
he was 〃splendid！〃 Humph！ He wondered if she really meant that。 If she
did
He squared his back to the houseand the memory of Miss Conroy's eyesand
plodded across the field to the gate。 Now the sun was shining； and there was
no possibility of getting lost。 The way to the Cross L lay straight and
plain before him。
Rowdy rode leisurely up over the crest of a ridge beyond which lay the home
ranch of the Cross L。 Whether it was henceforth to be his home he had yet to
discoverthough there was reason for hoping that it would be。 Even so
venturesome a man as Rowdy Vaughan would scarce ride a long hundred miles
through unpeopled prairie； in the tricky month of March； without some reason
for expecting a welcome at the end of his journey。 In this case； a previous
acquaintance with 〃Wooden Shoes〃 Mielke； foreman of the Cross L； was Rowdy's
trump…card。 Wooden Shoes； whenever chance had brought them together in the
last two or three years； was ever urging Rowdy to come over and unroll his
soogans in the Cross L bed…tent； and promising the best string in the outfit
to ridebesides other things alluring to a cow…puncher。 So that； when his
relations with the Horseshoe Bar became strained； Rowdy remembered his
friend of the Cross L and the promises； and had drifted south。
Just now he hoped that Wooden Shoes would be home to greet him； and his eyes
searched wishfully the huddle of low…eaved cabins and the assortment of
sheds and corrals for the bulky form of the foreman。 But no one seemed to be
aboutexcept a bigbodied； bandy…legged individual； who appeared to be
playfully chasing a big； bright bay stallion inside the large enclosure
where stood the cabins。
Rowdy watched them impersonally； a glance proved that