"Do you know them?"

"Oh, yes, every one around here knows them."

"You don't speak very enthusiastically," said Mr. Bellmore, with a strange
look at the boy. "Is it possible that some error has been made on the part
of those who gave me letters of introduction? Is not Mr. Molick
influential in these parts?"

"Oh, yes, that's all right," assented Dave, and still his voice had no
ring to it. "Mr. Molick is influential all right--too much so, at times."

"You don't seem to like him," said Mr. Bellmore. "I wish you would be
frank with me. I am a stranger in these parts, and I have to depend on
residents here for my information, and, in a large part, for my success. I
know nothing about the Molicks."

"Well, since you asked me to be frank," went on Dave, "I will be, and I'll
say you haven't missed much by not knowing the Molicks--especially Len.
I'm after him now, for I suspect him of having tried to do us a serious
injury."

"Is that so! That's too bad. If I had known that--"

"Oh, don't let me prejudice you against them," Dave went on." Mr. Molick
may be able to do business with you in the way you want. I am not speaking
from the business end of it. Personally I don't like the Molicks," and
Dave mentioned the cattle stampede.

"Well, if he did that I should say he wasn't a person to be trusted," said