Sooner or later the boys would have noticed the latter's absence from the outfit.

Therefore if he advanced his story now there would be less conjecture later.
"You boys have got enough to do," he said, still watching Ferguson.
"I've hired this man to look up strays.

I reckon he c'n put in a heap of time at it." Rope shot a swift glance upward at the manager's back.

Then he grinned furtively.

"Two-gun," he observed quietly; "with the bottoms of his holsters tied down.