He's a good rider and a good
herder, and we've never had any fault to find with the way he does his
work. But you know as well as I do that we didn't know a thing about him
when he came riding along looking for a job. We were short-handed then
and needed men desperately, and so we hired him, but I made up my mind
that as soon as things got slack, and we had to lay some of the men off,
he'd be the first to go. There may be good Indians and good Mexicans,
and it may be my misfortune that I never met them. But Pedro is a
half-breed--half Mexican and half Indian--and I've always noticed that
that kind is apt to have the worst qualities of both. I've never liked
him, but I've set that down to prejudice, and always tried to treat him
exactly like the rest of the men. Now, as I said, I may be entirely
wrong, but somehow I've got the notion in my head that those rustlers
knew just who was to be riding herd on that section when they made their
raid. But don't breathe a word of this to any one till we've got
something more to go on. Keep your eyes wide open and see too if you can
pump anything more out of Chip about that steer.
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