"You?" cried Eddie. "What are you doin' back here? I
gotta take you now," and he started to draw his revolver; but
Billy Byrne had him covered before ever his hand reached the
grip of his gun.
"Put 'em up!" admonished Billy, "and listen to me. This
ain't no time fer gunplay or no such foolishness. I ain't back
here to be took--get that out o' your nut. I'm tipped off that
a bunch o' siwashes was down here last night to swipe Miss
Harding. Come! We gotta go see if she's here or not, an' don't
try any funny business on me, Eddie. I ain't a-goin' to be
taken again, an' whoever tries it gets his, see?"
Eddie was down off the porch in an instant, and making
for the ranchhouse.
"I'm with you," he said. "Who told you? And who done
it?"
"Never mind who told me; but a siwash named Esteban
was to pull the thing off for Grayson. Grayson wanted Miss
Harding an' he was goin' to have her stolen for him."
"The hound!" muttered Eddie.
The two men dashed up onto the veranda of the ranchhouse
and pounded at the door until a Chinaman opened it
and stuck out his head, inquiringly.
"Is Miss Harding here?" demanded Billy.
"Mlissy Hardie Kleep," snapped the servant. "Wally wanee
here flo blekfas?", and would have shut the door in their faces
had not Billy intruded a heavy boot.
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