The foreman slowly raised his hands above his head. Jim Barrows frisked him of his revolver and took possession of the roll of bills which he tossed over to Connie. She quickly counted the sum.

“There’s exactly seven hundred dollars here,” she reported. “Just fifty less than I lost.”

“I reckon Kerrigan spent the fifty,” said Jim.

“What did you call me?” demanded the foreman savagely.

“Jack Kerrigan—wanted in Texas for cattle stealing and on a few other charges. You’ve eluded the authorities very cleverly, Jack, but the law has caught up with you at last.”

“Are you a government man?” Connie gasped.

“Reckon I am, Miss,” the man agreed, without taking his gaze from the foreman. “Keep your hands up, Jack, and don’t try any monkey business.”

“I don’t understand at all,” murmured Connie in bewilderment. “I thought——”

“Just what I hoped you would,” finished the detective. “If you had suspected who I was my entire purpose would have been defeated. I’ll explain everything after I’ve taken this hombre to jail. March on down the trail, Jack!”

Connie and Enid, still somewhat dazed by what had happened, followed the two men. Barrows compelled the foreman to ride ahead of him down the trail while he kept him covered. The girls had a dozen questions which they wished to ask, but the detective seemed in no mood for explanations. He promised them he would return to Rainbow Ranch just as soon as he had delivered his prisoner to the sheriff at Red Gulch.

“I’m hopelessly mixed now,” Connie confided to Enid after they had parted company with the detective. “To think that I believed Jim Barrows might have been the one who robbed me of my money!”

“I don’t wonder you arrived at such a conclusion,” Enid replied after she had heard of the various evidence which had come into her friend’s possession. “So many things aren’t explained even now.”

But the girls did not have long to wait until all of their questions were answered. By the time they had changed into dry clothing and refreshed themselves with breakfast, Jim Barrows returned to the ranch.

“I’ll start at the beginning,” he declared. “First of all my name isn’t Jim Barrows. Instead it is Jim Ragon.”

“So that accounts for the initialed handkerchief which I picked up,” Connie commented.

“Yes, and I suppose you’ve guessed that I came here for the deliberate purpose of getting a job. I had been tipped off that Blakeman might be the man I was after.”

“You weren’t sick at all that day I found you on the trail?”

“I’m afraid I was playing possum. I thought I might appeal to your sympathy if you thought I was down and out. So I waited for you on the trail. It was a mean advantage to take, but it did serve my purpose. You were kind enough to give me a job.”

“Blakeman was suspicious of you from the very first.”

“He didn’t like me,” the detective admitted, “but until today I am sure he did not suspect who I was. You understand now why I was trying to break into his chest?”

“You were after evidence.”

“Yes, and I did succeed in getting a paper which definitely links your foreman with a crime committed in Texas. I could have arrested him yesterday but by waiting I hoped to learn more.”

“Did you think that he was the person who robbed me at Eagle Pass?” Connie questioned.

“Yes, I felt certain of it. I thought that by keeping watch of him I might learn where he had cached the money.”

Connie took a silver knife from her pocket, offering it to the detective.

“Here is something which belongs to you, I believe.”

“Where did you find it?” he asked quickly.

“I picked it up last night on the trail to the cliff dwellings.”

“I must have dropped it when I followed your foreman there,” the detective responded. “I’ve been watching him ever since I started working here at the ranch. Finally I figured out that his secret trips to the cliffs must have some significance. Last night I searched the kivas without success. Today I lay in wait for Blakeman, as you know, with better luck.”

“What will happen to him?” Connie asked.

The detective shrugged.

“Oh, he’ll probably get twenty years if he pleads guilty. I have him locked up at the jail now. Late this afternoon I’m starting back to Texas with him.”

“Then I may not see you again,” Connie said regretfully. “You must forgive me for discharging you.”

“You did me a service,” the man smiled. “The only thing I worried about was that you might tell Blakeman I had been prying into his chest.”

“I’ll always be grateful to you,” Connie said earnestly. “And you’ll be remembered as the finest hand I ever had!”

“Maybe you’ll see me again next summer,” the man promised as he prepared to ride away. “I’ve taken a liking to this ranch. I’d enjoy spending my vacation here.”

“We’ll be looking for you back next year,” Connie declared.

Later in the morning the girls rode to Red Gulch themselves. By that time the cowboys had driven the cattle to the stockyards, and the loading was nearly completed.

“Did we lose many animals in the stampede?” Connie asked Lefty anxiously.

“Only two,” he answered. “You’re a-sittin’ pretty now, Connie. This shipment ought to net you a nice amount.”

“I’ll not need very much of the money to pay off my bank debt,” she told him gaily. “With the seven hundred dollars I already have, I’ll make a first payment on the note. Then as soon as my check comes back for this stock, I’ll settle it.”

“Looks like you’ll get a good market for your cattle too,” Lefty declared. “You ought to have quite a bit left over.”

“I can use it,” laughed Connie. “Oh, I have wonderful plans! I’ll remodel, and I’ll buy thoroughbred stock. Perhaps I’ll build a new wing on the ranch house and advertise for dudes!”

“Going into the business strong?”

“That’s right,” Connie agreed. “This morning Mr. Grimes said he intends to come back next year bringing Cecil and Helena. And he knows several other people he expects to interest in our place.”

“I could do without Cecil myself,” Lefty muttered.

“Oh, he’s improving every day,” Connie laughed. “In another year perhaps you’ll make a real cowboy of him.”

“Wranglin’ dudes ain’t my favorite pastime.”

“Oh, that reminds me. Lefty, you’re to have a new job—and if we do well, a new salary to go with it.”

“What doin’?” the cowboy asked cautiously.

“You’re to be the new foreman.”

Lefty stared at Connie as if he could not believe his ears. His mouth widened in a grin.

“That’s sure swell of you, Connie. I—I don’t know what to say.”

His horny hand reached out and grasped hers.

After leaving the stockyards, Connie went directly to the First National Bank. Mr. Haynes received her with a cordiality which was amusing to the girl. He gave her a receipt for the seven hundred dollars, assuring her that she need not worry about the remaining amount.

“Thank you,” said Connie, “but I’ll pay off the rest of my debt in three days.”

And she was able to keep her word. The sale of the cattle netted far more than the girl had expected. Upon receiving the check in payment, her first act was to settle the note with the bank.

“Rainbow Ranch is really mine again,” Connie thought with satisfaction as she rode slowly home.

Her gaze wandered toward the vermilion cliffs. She had never seen them quite so beautiful as they were at this moment, tinted by the last rays of the afternoon sun.

Behind her sloped the golden plain. Ahead in majestic splendor rose the painted mountains. Connie drew rein to gaze for a moment at the familiar scene. Then with a gay laugh she spurred Silvertail into a brisk canter and they raced home to Rainbow Ranch.