"Tom Rover! How did you get here?"
It was Dan Baxter, as impudent and hard-faced as ever. He came a step closer and fairly glared at Tom.
For one brief instant, Tom's self-possession deserted him. Then he recovered and stared boldly at Baxter.
"Say, what you a-talkin' about?" he drawled.
"Eh?"
"What you a-talkin' about? I don't know you—never see you before."
"Well, if that ain't the limit!" burst out the bully. "You don't know me!"
"An' my name ain't Tim Drover," went on Tom, purposely mispronouncing the name.
"Go to grass, Tom Rover! You can't play any game on me. I know you too well, even in that outfit."
At that moment Sack Todd returned. He was surprised to find Dan Baxter talking to Tom.
"Do you know Bud Cashaw?" he questioned.
"Bud Cashaw? Who is he?"
"This is Bud."
"Not much! Do you know who this is? Tom Rover, the brother I was telling you about."
"Tom Rover!" almost shouted the owner of Red Rock ranch. "Are you certain of this?"
