Part 10 (1/2)

Shortly after this Chet and Paul went out to care for the cattle about the place, for quite a few head had already been penned up ready for the early fall drive. The ranch did not boast of many cattle, and such as there was they desired to keep in the best possible condition.

Noel Urner accompanied them and was much interested in all to be seen and what was done.

”Such a difference between life out here and in the city,” he remarked.

”Actually, it is like another world!”

”You're right there,” replied Paul. ”And when you size it up all around, it's hard to tell which is the best--providing, of course, you can get a comfortable living at either place.”

Just as the three were walking back to the ranch the sounds of a horse's hoofs broke upon their ears.

”Can it be Allen?” burst out Chet, but then his face fell. ”No, it's not his style of riding.”

”Oh, pshaw!” whispered Paul a second later. ”If it isn't Captain Grady!”

”And who is he?” queried Noel.

”An old prospector who wants to get possession of this ranch. He claims that our t.i.tle to it is defective, or not good at all. I wonder what he wants now?”

”Perhaps he's got more evidence to prove his claim to the place,”

groaned Chet. ”Oh, dear! Troubles never come singly, true enough!”

With anxious hearts the two brothers walked forward to meet the new arrival, whose face bore a look of insolence and self-satisfaction.

Captain Hank Grady was a tall, evil-looking man of forty years of age.

His t.i.tle was merely one of favor, for he had neither served in the army nor the navy. But little was known of his past by the people of the section, and he never took the pains to enlighten those who were curious enough to know.

For years he had wanted the Big Bear ranch, as the Winthrop homestead was called, for neither by fair means nor foul had he heretofore been able to obtain possession of the property. But now he had been working in secret for a long while, and he came prepared to make an announcement that was designed to trouble the boys not a little.

”Hullo, there, young fellers,” he called out roughly, as he dismounted.

”I reckon you didn't expect to see me quite so soon again, did you?”

”We did not,” rejoined Paul, coldly.

”Well, I confess I fixed matters up quicker than I first calculated to do,” went on the captain. ”I thought I was going to have a good bit more trouble to establish my claim.”

”As far as I know you have no claim here to establish,” put in Chet, sharply. ”You may pretend----”

”See here, I ain't talking to you,” retorted Captain Grady, cutting him short. ”Your big brother is the feller I want to see--him or Barnaby Winthrop.”

”Both of them are away,” replied Paul, ”and Chet and I are running the ranch just now.”

”And if you do not like my manner of speech you need not stay here,”

cried Chet, warmly, his temper rising at the newcomer's aggressive manner.

”Ho! you young savage, don't you speak that way to me,” roared Captain Grady. ”I didn't come here to deal with a kid.”