They parted, and Ted and Stella rode into the town.

“Say, friend, have you seen anything of that old skin Norris?” asked Ted, meeting one of the Running Water outfit on the street.

“Yep.  I wuz jest goin’ ter look yer up an’ post yer,” was the reply.

“Which way did he go, or is he still in town?”

“Jest after yer put ther finish onto Shan—­an’, say, that wuz a beaut, if any one should ask you—­I see Norris an’ ther jock makin’ fer ther gate, leadin’ ther magpie bronc.  I thinks they’re goin’ ter put him in ther corral fer yer, an’ didn’t pay much ’tention ter him.”

“Then he’s up at the corral?”

“No, he ain’t.  He’s foggin’ along to’rds ther Wichita Mountains as fast as he kin go.”

“How do you know?”

“I met one o’ our outfit a bit ago, an’ he was sore because yer let ther old feller git away with ther magpie, after yer won him fair.  Yer see, he thinks ye flunked on collectin’ ther pony.”

“Not on your life.  We don’t do business that way.”

“That’s what I was thinkin’, so I ast him whichever way ther ole man was headin’.  He says inter ther east, tickity-brindle.”

“Which road?”

“Right out ther east end o’ ther main street.”

“Thank you, pard.”

“Yer almighty welcome.  Good luck.  If yer ketch up with ther coyote, bring him in an’ let us have a good squint at him.”

“Oh, I’ll bring him in, all right, if I get him.”

“So long!”

“So long!  Come on, Stella, we’ll have to kick dust if we’re going to connect with that old party.”

They dashed down the street, followed by an equal mingling of smiles and frowns.  Smiles from the cow-punchers and townspeople whose champion he had been, and frowns from the gamblers.

But they saw neither, for they were intent upon their business.  They made a mighty handsome couple as they dashed along, for they were well mounted and both were perfect riders.

Many a young girl walking along the street looked enviously after Stella, and wished she could ride as well and was as beautiful.  And many a lad looked after his ideal of a hero of the West, dashing and brave Ted Strong, who had so lately vanquished the bully who had been feared of all men, and who could ride like a centaur, and shoot perfectly.

It did not take long for them to clear the town, and dash out onto the prairie road which led into the Wichita Mountains.

They did not spare their horses, for Ted knew that if Norris once succeeded in reaching the mountains it would be almost impossible to find him among the many fastnesses and deep and rough canons which abound in those most picturesque hills and peaks.

While Ted knew the Wichita Mountains well, he was also aware that even the most expert scout did not know all about them, and that there were places in them that had never been explored, unless, perhaps, by renegade Indians and white outlaws, with which the mountains had at times been infested.