without any disturbance.




CHAPTER XIV.

THE DOCTOR TURNS CONSPIRATOR--THE PLOT TO ROB THE RANCHE.


The pseudo doctor had been at the ranche a week, during which he had
become quite chummy with Jim Cummings and Dan Moriarity, who, finding
that time hung very heavy on their hands, welcomed the jovial, story-
telling doctor and spent most of their time in his company.

Swanson, who was moving his stock further west and making preparations
for the spring round-up, was obliged to be in the saddle all day and
sometimes late at night. Although a hard drinker, an unscrupulous rascal
and an inveterate gambler, he was a good stock-raiser, and kept good
care of his cattle. He employed a large force of cowboys or herders,
and, acting himself as captain of the round-up, he would absent himself
from home for days at a time.

One morning the Doctor, flashing a significant glance toward Scip, which
said, "Take your cue and follow me," remarked in a careless tone:

"I reckon the old man must have considerable dust salted down by this
time."

As the remark was a general one made to Cummings, Moriarity and Scip,