The man was slight, almost boyish in figure.  His hair was dark, as were his eyes, the latter having a trick of growing suddenly darker than their natural color, seeming to sink further back in his head under some sudden stress of emotion.  The brown fingers were slender and nervous in their movements.

“I’ll bet he would be quick on the trigger,” was Tad’s mental conclusion.

“Are you from these parts?” asked the professor by way of starting the conversation.

“El Paso, when I’m at home.  And you?”

“From the north.”

“Down here for your health?”

“Partly.  Mostly for an outing.”

“Just so.  I reckon I’ve heard something about you.”

“Maybe it was I whom you heard about,” suggested Chunky.

“Can’t say as I have,” answered Conway, directing a quick glance at the fat boy.

“You don’t know what you’ve missed,” answered Stacy solemnly, helping himself to five slices of bacon.

“You didn’t happen to meet with any of the Rangers this morning, did you?” questioned Professor Zepplin.

It was the professor’s turn to get a sharp look now.

“Rangers?  No.  Why do you ask?”

“Because we were looking for some of them.”

“What for?”

“We wanted to see them about a little matter,” hastily interposed Tad Butler.

“What matter?”

There was no stopping the professor.

“Why, we camped with a body of them last night.  With Lieutenant Withem, a most affable gentleman.  They ran away and left us early this morning.  However, I suppose they had good reasons.”

“Joe Withem, eh?”

“Yes, that was the man.”

“How many Rangers did behave with him?”

“Twelve, wasn’t it, boys?”

“Something like that,” replied Tad, observing their visitor narrowly.  “However, Professor, I hardly think we should speak of them.  You see they were on some secret mission and—–­”

“It’s all right, young man.  You are safe in confiding in me.  In fact, I am going to confide a little secret to you to show you that you have made no mistake.”

“We shall preserve your secret, sir,” answered the professor with great dignity.

“I thought you would.  Lean closer and I’ll tell you,” almost whispered the visitor.

CHAPTER XIV

WHEN THE AIR GREW CHILL

“I’m a Ranger, too,” confided the visitor.

“What, you a Ranger?” exclaimed the professor.

“Of Captain McKay’s band?”

“You’ve hit it, pard.”

“Well, well, this is indeed a pleasure.  We have not had the honor of meeting Captain McKay as yet, but we hope to do so, ere long.  He had promised to meet us last night, but I understand was called away on some business pertaining to his calling.”

“You would like to meet Captain McKay?”