He remembered what Buck had told him about bringing back the word to him immediately, so after he had stripped the saddle from his horse and turned him into the corral, he passed the bunk house and headed for the house. At Buck’s office door he knocked loudly. It was a full minute before a light appeared and Buck opened the door. His hair was rumpled and he was in his underwear and Levis. “You,” he said, surprise in his voice. “Come in.” Putting the lamp on the desk, he indicated a chair. “Sit down.” “Maybe I shouldn’t have woke you—” “What’d you find?” Buck demanded. “I drifted in yesterday and hung around the hotel most of the mornin’ hittin’ ranchers for jobs. I only picked the ones I heard was full-handed. When they got used to me bein’ there, I drifted over to the saloon—the Melodian. Hugo Meeker was there, and—” “How’d you know him?” Buck cut in. “Asked the bartender. Besides, he was ridin’ a horse with a Dollar brand. That’s what made me ask.”
