Clay’s fires were going well, and the steer and sheep were being roasted for the noontime feast.

Ben had gone on a still-hunt among the tents belonging to the showman, and, while he found three small dogs, there was no sign of a monkey, and by adroit questioning he learned that they had had a monkey, but that it had died at Leadville, because the air in that altitude was too cold and rare for it.

These facts he communicated to Ted, and seemed to explode the monkey-thief theory.

During the morning there was a baseball game between the cowboys and the clerks from the stores in Soldier Butte and Strongburg, in which the score was forty-one to three in favor of the clerks.  The cowboys couldn’t play ball any more than a rabbit, encumbered as they were by their chaps, high-heeled boots, and spurs.  It took a home-run hit to get one of them to first base.

After dinner the cowboy sports were to come off.

When Ted could get away from his duties as host for a few minutes he sauntered through the crowd, extending greetings to all whom he knew, but at the same time keeping a close watch over everything.

The theft of the money from the cubby-hole had aroused in him all his detective instincts.

He saw two or three of the young fellows who had been with Wiley Creviss the night of the ball, but he paid no attention to them.  They were welcome to come to the festivities, and to remain so long as they behaved themselves.

But he determined to have them watched.

Soon he came upon some more of the Creviss gang and saw them mingle with several boys, whom he knew to be tough characters, from Strongburg.

“The clan is gathering,” he said to himself.  “We’re likely to have trouble with those fellows before the day is over.  I’ll put Bud next to them, and have the boys watch them.”

“Whom do you suppose I saw just now?”

It was Stella’s voice, and she was standing at his elbow.

“Who?” he asked.

“Wiley Creviss.”

“Is that so?  I have been watching for him to come along.  A lot of his fellows are here, and they are sticking pretty well together.  Where did you see him?”

“I told Ben I’d take in his show even if no one else did, and I’ve kept my promise.  When I was in that biggest tent I suddenly came upon Creviss in close conversation with the boss showman.  When they saw me looking at them they separated in a hurry, and Creviss left the tent.”

“H’m!  I wonder if Ben knows this fellow who owns the show.”

“Don’t know, I’m sure.  It wouldn’t be a bad scheme to find out something about him in view of the robbery last night.”

“You’re right, Stella.  Another thing I’ve been thinking about:  I’ve been looking for Skip Riley, the Strongburg fireman, the supposed leader of the Flying Demons.  If they are going to try any of their monkey business to-day he ought to be here.”