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He spoke his compliment patly enough, but somehow the girl had an

impression that he was thinking of something else. She was right,

for as he helped gather the drive his mind was busy with a

problem. Presently he dismounted to tighten a cinch, and made a

signal to a young fellow known as Slim Leroy. The latter was a

new and tender recruit to Jed's band of miscreants. He drew up

beside his leader and examined one of the fore hoofs of his pony.