"El cochino!" he cackled, and turned back into his hut.
At El Orobo Rancho Barbara walked to and fro outside
the ranchhouse. Within her father sat reading beneath the rays
of an oil lamp. From the quarters of the men came the strains
of guitar music, and an occasional loud laugh indicated the
climax of some of Eddie Shorter's famous Kansas farmer
stories.
Barbara was upon the point of returning indoors when her
attention was attracted by the approach of a half-dozen horsemen.
They reined into the ranchyard and dismounted before
the office building. Wondering a little who came so late,
Barbara entered the house, mentioning casually to her father
that which she had just seen.
The ranch owner, now always fearful of attack, was upon
the point of investigating when Grayson rode up to the
veranda and dismounted. Barbara and her father were at the
door as he ascended the steps.
"Good news!" exclaimed the foreman. "I've got the bank
robber, and Brazos, too. Caught the sneakin' coyote up to--
up the river a bit." He had almost said "Jose's;" but caught
himself in time. "Someone's been cuttin' the wire at the north
side of the north pasture, an' I was ridin' up to see ef I could
catch 'em at it," he explained.
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