"You rode in with him," Dave persisted.
Ed wheeled quickly. "How do you know I did?"
"Your boy saw you."
The ranchman's voice was harsh as he said: "Look here, my friend,
you're on the wrong track. The fellow I was with had nothing to do
with this affair. Would you know your man? Did you get a look at
him?"
"No. But I reckon Don Ricardo could tell his horse."
"Humph!" Austin grunted, disagreeably. "So just for that you come
prowling around threatening my help, eh? Trying to frame up a
case, maybe? Well, it don't go. I was out with one of Tad Lewis's
men."
"What was his name?" Dave managed to inquire.
"Urbina. He had a sorrel under him, but there are thousands of
sorrel horses."
"What time did you meet him?"
"I met him at noon and--I've been with him ever since. So you see
you're wrong. I presume your man doubled back and is laughing at
you."
Law's first bewilderment had given place to a black rage; for the
moment he was in danger of disregarding the reason for "Young
Ed's" incivility and giving free rein to his passion, but he
checked himself in time.
"Would you mind telling me what you and this Urbina were doing?"
he inquired, harshly.
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