"If they guessed, they'd be likely to try it again," he thought, "and another time they might succeed."
Stratton managed his route so that for the last two miles it took exactly the course he would have followed in returning directly from Las Vegas camp. His plan was further favored by the discovery that none of the men save Bud were anywhere about the ranch-house.
"Gone off to ride fence along with Flint an' Butch," Jessup informed him, when Buck located him in the wagon-shed. "Wonder why he's so awful interested in fences all of a sudden," he went on thoughtfully. "They've been let go all over the ranch till they're plumb fallin' to pieces."
"You've got me," shrugged Stratton. He had been cogitating whether or not to confide in Bud, and finally decided in the negative. It would do no particular good, and the youngster might impulsively let out something to the others. "Why didn't they take you along, too?"
"I sure wish they had," Bud answered shortly. "Then I wouldn't of had to be lookin' at that all afternoon."
He straightened from the wagon-body he was tinkering and waved a wrench toward the window behind Stratton. Turning quickly, the latter saw that it looked out on the rear of the ranch-house, where there were a few stunted trees and a not altogether successful attempt at a small flower-garden. On a rough, rustic bench under one of the trees sat young Manning and Mary Thorne, in earnest conversation.
"Sickening, ain't it?" commented Bud, taking encouragement from Stratton's involuntary frown. "I been expectin' 'em to hold hands any minute."
Buck laughed, mainly because he was annoyed with himself for feeling any emotion whatever. "You don't seem to like Mr. Alfred Manning," he remarked.
"Who would?" snorted Jessup. "He sure gets my goat, with them dude clothes, an' that misplaced piece of eyebrow on his lip, an' his superior airs. I wouldn't of thought Miss Mary was the kind to--"
"Where's--er--Miss Manning?" broke in Buck, reluctant to continue the discussion.
"Gone in with Mrs. Archer," Bud explained, "They was both out there a while ago, but I reckon they got tired hangin' around."
Stratton turned his back on the dingy window and fell to work on the wagon with Bud.