The evening world., 1912-01-04

f'' s'b -, N"N
cabin were rustlers. Honest
- men did not md II necessary
TO live In a basin In the hills where they
were shut In from sight of the open
country. Cattle thieves did not always
ind II necessary 60 do s%o-unless they
were men like these. who had no herds
Of their own among which to conceal
their ~ill-gotten beasts. lie was con-
WINGED hat these men were migratory
thieves. who operated upon the herds
nearest them. remained until they had
accumulated a considerable number OF
cattle. and then drove the entire lot tc
some favored friend who was not averse
10 running the risk OF detection II
through that risk he came into posses
zion OF easily earned money.
There were two OF the men beside
L"viatt and Tucson-tall. ra~ngy-looking
their part. Ferguson watched them for
hall an hour. and then. convinced that
lie would gain nothing more by remain
Ing there. he stealthi'y backed down the
hillside To where his pony stood,
mounted. and rode toward the river.
Late In the afternoon he entered Rear
Flat. urged his pony at n brisk pace
across II. and just before shutdown drew
rein In front OF he Itadford cabin. lie
dismounted AMI stepped to the edge Of
the porch. n smile Of anticipation on his
lips. The noise OF his arrival brought
Mary Radford To the door. She came
out upon The porch. and he saw that her
face was pale ans her lips firmly set.
Apparently something had gone amks
with her and lie halted. looking at her
Questionlngly.
What's up?' he asked.
you ought to KNOW" she returned
quietly.
II amt good at guessln' Riddles" he
returned. grinning at her.
There II no riddle" she returned.
SIN quictly. She came forward until
she stood within two PAGES of him. her
eyes meeting his squarely. When you
loft here last night did you meet ben
on tho trail?' she continued steadily.
lilo started. reddcning a little. why
yes" he returned. wondering II Ben had
told her what had been said at that
meeting; was he tellin' YOU about IT.
Yes" she returned evenly. 'Nhe has
been telling me about II. That should
be sufficient for Sou. | am sorry that
ever met you. You should know why
n I were you I should not lose any
time In getting away from here"
Her voice was l~istless, even nat. but
there was a grim note In II that tol'
tina she was Keeping her composur'
with difficulty. lie laughed. thinking tina
since he had made the new agreement
with the Two Diamond manag he had
nothing 10 fear. II reckon I ought L
he scared he returned. but | ant,
An | don't consider that I'm Iosin' ans
time"
Her lips curved sarcas;ically. "You
have said something like that before
she told him. h"r eyes glitterlng scorn'
fully. "You have a great deal Of 'atth
In your ability to fool people. Bl, you
have mlscaiCulated this time.
II know why YOU have come to the
Two Diamond. | know what made YOU
come over here so much. ot course
am partly to blame. You have fooled
me as sou have fooled every one" sh'
stood suddenly erect. her .yes flashing
'If YOU planned 10 kill my brother. why
did YOU not have tle manhood TO meet
him fare 20 face
Ferguson lasaed Noull II help MS
case 10 deny that he mad Thought OF
fno!lng her. that Ne never lad ans m
teut.un ~ shooting Ben lie though,
not. LoY!att mad poisoned her mine
agalns, him lie Smiled grlmly.
some ones been talkln',' he sale
quietly. YOU'D be helpin' Ia make thii
case clear II, you'd tell who Il was"
some one has talked" she replied