is sister, was sure the safe had not been scratched the day before the robbery, m

ve a hard job, myself, remembering how to do it, account of the safe being a new one. And I was so surprised, at first, that I just

ame as I've heard of burglars doing by filing down their fingers with sandpap

re is clawed!" commen

sleep!" exclaimed Bud's mother. "You boys'll stay to

ty well most times, with what we cook, and what Buck Tooth hands ou

Nort, while Dick n

erkel safe, that was all the conclusion which could be arrived at. No additional clue

o interruption in the water supply that flowed into Happy Valley fr

of water in hot weather

a goodly herd of animals eating the rich, Johnson grass and other fodder, getting

the Zuni Indian, Yellin' Kid and Snake Purdee, two efficient and veteran cow punc

rfoot class, still Mr. Merkel felt that his son and his nephews needed the aid and guidance of cattlemen

ough," declared Snake Purdee, as he rode in from the Diamond X ranch one day, to announce,

that such a bunch of men is loose in a neighborhood. Del Pinzo and that Ha

" stated Yellin' Kid in his u

rprised at his safe," spoke Bud. "Of course he did

Hank Fisher, either. They'd get some one else to take the risk. However, what's th' use gass

nished then." For he and his cousins had a share in the

trange instrument traveled to other ranches. It was called by such a variety of names (the cowboys having twisted the original

it was presumed, had dropped it the night our heroes saw some o

lin' Kid had ridden off on an all-night tour of duty, to a distant part of the ranch. A choice bunch of steers had started to wander farther off than Bud thought it was

way," Bud had reques

be safer

ntil the hour for seeking their bunks, the boy ranchers sought some amusement. Shooting at a mark was one

cap if you fellows keep on the way you're going," for in the tests of

h," begged Dick. "Nort hasn't got

e how you'll do

at the foot of the sloping bank which enclosed the reservoir. Shooting ag

uggested Dick. "We wan

d it and brought it down on the mark-the bottle on the stick. There was a shar

cried Nort. "I wi

ve feet nearer than Bud had stood, that distance being the western lad's handicap. But Nort only chippe

he took his place where his brother had stood,

evel with the bottle when there sounded, from somewhere out in th

ads, and, as they instinctively ducked, t