[QueryJ-users] D the door. The light was still burning, and on the bed he could see

[Debiew <unt...@to...>]

Ad. He could get no trace of his little boy, and finally had gone West
again. At first he had carried himself straight, but presently he had
gotten in with the wrong set and had drank and gambled, and left Mr.
Endicott to go to work for Mr. Merwell. "But I am going to turn over a
new leaf," he said. "Only let me find my boy! I'll show him what a good
father I can be to him!" And his face took on a look of hope. "And now I
am going to tell you about Link Merwell," went on Hank Snogger, a little
later. "I feel you ought to know, for you are the one who has suffered
most because of his doings. You remember how your horses were stolen."
"Yes." "Well, Link took 'em. He says he didn't mean to steal 'em, but
that is what it amounted to. He took 'em, and while the storm was on
some cattle-thieves, headed by Andy Andrews, came along. Link says
Andrews and his gang took the horses away, but I think Link made a deal
with the hoss-thieves, for the next day I see Link with a roll of
bank-bills, and I know Mr. Merwell didn't give him the money. He had
about two hundred dollars, and I think he got the wad from Andrews--on
his promise not to open his mouth." "How did you learn this?" "I was
out, rounding up some stray steers, and I saw him just before the storm
with the hosses. I wasn't near enough to talk to him, but that night I
spoke to him, and he couldn't deny that he took 'em in the first place.
He was terribly afraid I'd give him away, and he said if I did he'd say
I took 'em. Well, you can believe me or not, but he took 'em." "I
believe you," answered Dave. "And we'll have this matter sifted just as
soon as we return to Star Ranch." It was some time ere Todd, Roger, and
Phil showed themselves. In the meantime Dave made Snogger promise not to
say anything about the stolen horses to the others. "Perhaps the matter
can be fixed up between Mr. Endicott and Mr. Merwell," he said. "It
would be terrible to have Link publicly branded as a horse-thief." Hank
Snogger had been out alone and he readily consented to join the others
at their camp. The two elk and the bear were brought in, and it was
decided to start back for the ranches the next morning. "I must see Mr.
Endicott on important business," said Dave to Sid Todd, an