Then he turned to where Tucson had taken himself and with his friend entered the bunkhouse.

In an instant the old talk arose and the laughter, but many furtive glances swept Ferguson as he stood, talking quietly with Rope.
The following morning Stafford came upon Rope while the latter was throwing the saddle on his pony down at the corral gate.
"I heard something about some trouble between Dave Leviatt an' the new stray-man," said Stafford.

"I reckon it wasn't serious ?" Rope turned a grave eye upon the manager.

"Shucks," he returned, "I reckon it wasn't nothin' serious.

Only," he continued with twitching lips, "Dave was takin' the stray-man's measure." Stafford smiled grimly.