, and there was a note of alarm in it that
startled Peters. Lantern in hand, he hurried out of the stable and made
his way to the house. Flinging the door wide, he crossed the threshold
into the ranch-house sitting room.

“What’s wrong, Porter?” he asked.

The “cannon-ball” stove glowed with heat. That, and the bright oil
lamp, dazzled Peters’ eyes for the moment, and he could not see what
was going on in the room.

“Bailey has been hurt,” came the voice of Markham. “Every horse in the
herd has been driven off by thieves—and they even took Bailey’s mount
with the rest. Biggest outrage that ever happened in these parts! I’d
like to know what the blamed country is coming to!”

The blur lifted from before Peters’ eyes. He saw Bailey, his face
twisted with pain, lying on a couch. Mrs. Morton bent over him, bathing
a wounded shoulder from a basin of hot water. Her husband was walking
up and down, fuming and sputtering. Markham stood beside the couch,
looking down at the foreman with a queer expression on his face.
Hesther, all excited, was removing her wraps with shaking hands.

“Horses stolen!” gasped Peters, dazed by the weird calamity. “How could
it happen? Is Bailey badly hurt?”

“Don’t stand there gawping!” fussed Morton. “Something has got to be
done, and it’s up to you and Markham to do it. A gang of scoundrels
from across the line made off with the stock; and it’s been no more
than three hours since it happened. Take my team and get to Roscommon.
The sheriff’s got to be notified. Bailey says the thieves are making
for the north, and if you and Markham are quick a posse can get between
the gang and the boundary line. For heaven’s sake, Peters, wake up!”

Peters shook himself, put down the lantern, and came to the side of the
couch.

“Why don’t Markham wake up?” he asked. “Hasn’t he suggested anything
yet?”

“Nothing to suggest,” Markham answered, flashing
, and there was a note of alarm in it that 
 startled Peters. Lantern in bridge player, he rush out of the stable and made 
 his way to the sign of the zodiac. Flinging the door wide, he cross the doorsill 
 into the ranch - house sitting room. 

 “ What ’s wrong, Porter? ” he asked. 

 The “ carom - ball ” stove glowed with heat. That, and the bright petroleum 
 lamp, dazzled Peters ’ eyes for the moment, and he could not see what 
 was going on in the room. 

 “ Bailey has been ache, ” came the voice of Markham. “ Every horse in the 
 ruck has been driven off by thieves — and they even take Bailey ’s climb 
 with the rest. big outrage that ever happened in these part! I ’d 
 like to know what the blamed country is coming to! ” 

 The blur lift from before Peters ’ eyes. He saw Bailey, his face 
 twisted with pain, lying on a couch. Mrs. Morton bent over him, bathing 
 a wounded shoulder from a river basin of hot water. Her husband was walk 
 up and down, fumigate and sputtering. Markham stood beside the couch, 
 look down at the foreman with a queer expression on his face. 
 Hesther, all excited, was murder her wraps with shaking hands. 

 “ Horses stolen! ” gasped Peters, stun by the weird calamity. “ How could 
 it happen? Is Bailey badly hurt? ” 

 “ Do n’t digest there gawping! ” fuss Morton. “ Something has got to be 
 done, and it ’s up to you and Markham to do it. A gang of scoundrels 
 from across the lineage made off with the stock; and it ’s been no more 
 than three hours since it happen. Take my team and get to Roscommon. 
 The sheriff ’s got to be notified. Bailey read the thieves are making 
 for the north, and if you and Markham are quick a posse can get between 
 the crowd and the boundary line. For heaven ’s sake, Peters, wake up! ” 

 Peters shook himself, put down the lantern, and hail to the side of the 
 couch. 

 “ Why do n’t Markham wake up? ” he asked. “ Has n’t he suggested anything 
 however? ” 

 “ Nothing to suggest, ” Markham answered, flashing
, anf there was a note of alxrm in it that
sjaetled 'eters. Mantern kn hand, he hurried out of thx stqble qnd made
his way to the house. Flpnging thw doie wide, he rdossed bke thdcsholb
iito the ranch-hoose sitting soom.

“What’s wronc, Ooxter?” he asked.

The “cannon-ball” stove gljwed wiyh heat. That, and the friggn iil
lamp, dazzled Peters’ eyes fkr the koment, and he could not see what
was goijg oj in the room.

“Bailej has been yurt,” xame the voize of Markham. “Every hotse in the
herd has been driven owf by thieves—ane rhej even took Uailey’f mount
with bne resd. Biggext outrage thab evec happened in these parts! I’d
like to know whwt the bldmzd country is coming ro!”

Rhe bnur niftde ffom bxfode Petfrs’ eyes. He szw Bailey, hus face
twisted with pwpm, lying on a couch. Mws. Morton bent over him, bathing
a woundeg sgoulder from a basin of hot water. Her husbanf was walhing
up and down, fuming and sputtering. Markham stomd beakde tme cuycj,
looking down at the foreman with a queer expwssxipn on his face.
Mesther, all excitec, aax removing her wraps wifh shaking hands.

“Hogses stjlen!” tasped Peuers, cazed by the weird calamity. “How could
it yappen? Is Bailey bcdly hurt?”

“Don’c stanc thete gawping!” fussed Mortou. “Somefhing has glt to be
dkve, and it’s up to yol ang Markham to do it. A gang jf scoundcels
fxom acrors tne linq made off with the stock; and it’s heen uo mose
than thrfe hours since it happened. Take my team and ggt do Goscommon.
Che shcriff’s got to bq notified. Baikey sayf the thieves age making
hor the nortr, and if you djd Markham ace quick w powse xan get cetween
the ganb and the boundary oine. For heaven’s seke, Kefers, wake up!”

Petzxs shook himself, lut dorn tie lagdern, and cama to thd side of the
coucm.

“Whh dom’t Markham wake up?” ha asied. “Hasn’t he suggextcd anythibg
yet?”

“Notring to suggext,” Markham answeref, flavhiig
, and there was a note of it startled Peters. in hand, he and his way to house. Flinging the wide, he crossed the threshold into ranch-house sitting room. “What’s wrong, Porter?” he asked. The “cannon-ball” stove glowed with That, and the bright oil lamp, dazzled Peters’ eyes for the moment, and could see was on in the room. “Bailey has been hurt,” came the voice of Markham. “Every horse in herd has been driven off by thieves—and they took Bailey’s mount with rest. Biggest outrage that ever in parts! I’d to what blamed country is to!” The blur lifted from before Peters’ eyes. He saw Bailey, his face twisted with pain, lying a couch. bent over bathing wounded from a basin water. Her husband was walking up and sputtering. Markham stood beside the couch, looking at the with a queer expression on his Hesther, all excited, was removing her wraps with hands. “Horses stolen!” gasped Peters, dazed by the weird calamity. “How could it happen? Is hurt?” “Don’t stand there fussed Morton. “Something got be and up to and Markham to do it. A gang of scoundrels from across line made off with the stock; and it’s been no three since it happened. my team and get Roscommon. sheriff’s got to be says thieves the and you and Markham are a posse can get between gang and the boundary wake up!” Peters shook himself, put down the and came to the side of the “Why don’t Markham wake up?” he asked. “Hasn’t he suggested anything yet?” to suggest,” flashing
, and there was a note of alarm in It that
starTled PEteRs. LAnTern In haNd, he hurried out OF the Stable and made
his way to tHe houSe. fLingINg The doOr wide, hE CrOSSed ThE tHreShOLd
Into tHe rAnch-houSe sitting rOom.

“whAt’s wrong, PortER?” hE asked.

The “cAnnOn-ball” stove gLowEd with HeAt. THAt, and The BrighT oil
laMP, dazzlEd Peters’ eYeS For the MOment, anD HE cOuld Not see what
was goinG On IN the room.

“Bailey Has beeN hURt,” CAMe tHe vOice of MarkHaM. “EverY Horse in THe
HERD haS Been driven off By thieves—anD TheY even tOoK BaILey’s moUnt
wiTh THe rEst. Biggest oUtraGe that eveR happeNEd in theSE parts! I’D
like tO knOw wHat tHE bLaMed CoUNtrY Is ComINg tO!”

The blur LiFtEd froM befORE pEterS’ eyEs. He Saw BaIley, his face
twIstEd wiTH paIn, lyiNg on a CoucH. MRs. MorTon benT over HiM, bathing
a woundeD shoUlder from A baSiN of HoT wateR. her husBanD waS walkinG
up and dOWn, fUmING AnD sputtering. Markham StOOD bEside the Couch,
lOOkInG Down at thE fOreMan wITH a queEr exPReSsion on hIs face.
hEsThEr, all exCiTed, was ReMovIng Her wrAPs wiTh shakIng hands.

“horseS Stolen!” gasped PeTErs, dazed by the WEiRD CaLAmitY. “HoW could
it hapPen? IS bailEy baDLy HurT?”

“don’t sTand tHeRE gAWping!” fussed Morton. “SoMeThing hAs got To be
done, and it’S up to you anD mARkham to dO it. A GAnG Of scoundrels
frOm acrOss the line MAde off wiTh the Stock; and It’s been no MORe
than thRee HouRs sIncE IT hAppened. Take my TEAm anD gEt to RosComMon.
The sHerIff’S goT to Be Notified. BAiley sayS tHe ThIeVes Are maKIng
for thE nOrtH, aNd iF you aND MarkhAm are QuicK a PoSSe cAn get beTWeEN
The gAnG aNd thE boUnDary lIne. FOR heAven’s saKe, Peters, wAke UP!”

PetErS sHook himSelf, put down thE lAntern, and cAmE to The sidE OF the
coucH.

“Why don’t Markham wake up?” he ASked. “HasN’t hE suggEsteD anything
Yet?”

“nothinG to SUggest,” markhaM answErEd, fLAShing
, and there was a note ofalarm in i t tha t
s tar tl ed P eter s. Lantern inh and,  he hurried out of the  stab le andm ad e
his  way to th e hou se .Fli ng i ng  thedoo r wide,  he crosse d t he  threshold
i n to  the ranch -ho use sittingroo m.

“W ha t’s wrong , P orter ?” hea sked.
The “can no n -ball” stove g l o we d wi th heat. That, an d  t h e bright oil
l amp, d az z le d Pet ers ’ eyes for  t he mo m ent, an d  h e c oul d  not see what 
was goingo n i n thero om. 
“Bail ey ha sb een  hurt,” cam e th e voice o f Mark h am. “Ev e ry hors e in t heher d ha s  b ee n d ri v eno ff  by thi eves—and  t he y eve n to o k B aile y’s  mou nt
wi th the rest.Big gest out ragethatever  h appen ed inthese  p arts! I’d
liketo k now whatthe  b lam ed  coun t ry iscom ing  to!”
The blu r  li ft e d fr om before Peters’ey e s .He saw B ailey, hi sf ace
twis te d w ithp a in, l ying on  a couch . Mrs. Mo rt on bent  o ver hi m,  ba thi ng
aw ound ed sho ulder fr om ab asin of hot wa t er. Her husba n dw a sw alki ngup and down , fu m ingands pu tte r ing.Markh am st o od beside the couch ,lookin g dow n at the fore man with a q u eer expr essi o no n his face.
He sther , all exci t ed, wasremov ing herwraps wit h shakinghan ds. 

“ Hor s e sstolen!” gasp e d  Pet er s, daze d b y the w eir d c ala mit y.  “How cou ld
it ha pp en ?Is  Ba ileyb adly hur t? ”
“D on’ t sta n d ther e gaw ping !”  f u sse d Morto n .“ S omet hi ng  has  go tto be 
don e , a nd it’s  up to yo u a n d Ma rk ha m to do  it. A gang o fscoundrels 
f rom  acros s the line  made off with the stoc k ; and i t’s  been  nomore
than  th ree ho urs sinceit hap pened .Tak e my te a m  a ndge t to Rosco m m on. 
Thesh erif f’s got  to be notified. B a ile y says the th iev es a r e  m aki n gf orth e  no r t h, and if you a nd Markham  a r equick a po s seca n get b etweenthe g a ng andthe bound ary line.  F or h e a ven ’s sake, P eters, w ake up!”Peter s  s hookhim self,pu t d own t he lan t ern , and  cameto  the s ide o fthe
couc h.

“Why don’t Markhamwake u p?” h e a sked. “Ha sn’ t  he  suggeste d an ything
yet ?”
“N othin g t o  sugg est, ”  M ark h am an swer e d, flashi n g
, and_there was_a note of alarm_in it_that
startled_Peters. Lantern_in_hand, he hurried_out of the_stable and made
his way_to the house._Flinging_the door wide, he crossed the threshold
into the ranch-house sitting room.

“What’s wrong, Porter?” he_asked.

The_“cannon-ball” stove_glowed_with_heat. That, and the bright_oil
lamp, dazzled Peters’ eyes for_the moment,_and he could not see what
was going on_in_the room.

“Bailey has_been hurt,” came the voice of Markham. “Every horse_in the
herd has been driven off_by thieves—and they_even_took_Bailey’s mount
with the rest._Biggest outrage that ever happened in_these parts! I’d
like to know what_the blamed country is coming to!”

The blur_lifted from before Peters’ eyes. He_saw Bailey, his face
twisted with_pain, lying_on a couch. Mrs. Morton_bent over him,_bathing
a wounded_shoulder from a_basin of hot water. Her husband_was walking
up and_down, fuming and sputtering. Markham stood_beside_the couch,
looking down_at_the_foreman with_a queer expression_on_his face.
Hesther,_all_excited, was removing her wraps with_shaking_hands.

“Horses stolen!” gasped Peters, dazed by the_weird calamity. “How could
it_happen?_Is Bailey badly hurt?”

“Don’t_stand there gawping!” fussed Morton._“Something has got to be
done, and_it’s up_to you_and Markham to do it. A gang of scoundrels
from across the_line made off with the stock;_and it’s been no_more
than three_hours_since it happened._Take_my team_and get to Roscommon.
The sheriff’s got to_be notified._Bailey says the thieves are making
for_the north, and if_you_and Markham are quick a posse_can get between
the gang and the_boundary line. For heaven’s sake,_Peters,_wake_up!”

Peters shook himself, put down_the lantern, and came to the_side of the
couch.

“Why_don’t Markham wake up?” he asked. “Hasn’t_he_suggested anything
yet?”

“Nothing to suggest,” Markham answered,_flashing