And I saw two men ride off toward the eastern line of Sinkhole range, and they were not Johnny Jewel at all, which would be perfectly impossible.

Because soon afterwards I saw something very queer being hauled by mules, and that was Johnny bringing home his airplane, perfectly innocent." "Who's the fellow--" Sudden and Bill spoke together, the question which harried the minds of both.
"Of course," said Mary V, "I understand that some one from the ranch would have to put them up to distracting Johnny's attention by letting him have that airplane.

I can see that they would want to keep him busy so he wouldn't pay so much attention to the horses down there, and would not notice a few horses gone now and then.

So somebody had heard about the airplane, and told them that Johnny was perfectly mad about aviation, and--" Sudden turned, and took her by the shoulders.

"Mary V, who was that man?
Don't try to shield him, because I shall--" "The very idea! I don't want to shield him at all.