The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-07-07
CHAPTER l.. A Terrifying Reception.

looked many times at the two men she had found there. But her glances at them had been apathetic- ally incurious, for she had been fight ing to recover from the shock occa- stoned by the news that her Uncle Gaylord F'ane-whose welcome she had counted on-was dead. He had died the week before
 When the men had told her of this, she had sunk into a chair, stunned and nerveless. Uncle Gaylord had written to her many times; had in- sisted on her coming to visit him and now to find him dead! Calls face was pale, and a little drawn, for since learning of her uncle's death she suddenly realized that the strain of travel had affected . her. She sighed heavily as she faced the man near the door, and one hand mechanically went upward and tuck ed in some stray wisps of her hair dark brown and wavy.
 She had not removed her hat; it was felt with a wide brin and little awry; but she wore it with the grace of one long accustomed to hats of that type She set it straight on her head, and a tinse of color be- gan to creep into her cheeks.
 The man near the door was watch ing her gravely. He was tall. slen- der, dark and thin-lipped- He smiled with slight derision she thought as he watched her rearrange her hair. He grinned at the other mana medium-sized fellow with a dark, dropping mustache-who was Iazily watching her also.
 Calls face flushed with a quick re- sentiment The two men had been seated at a little table near the center of the room, playing cards. Until now. they had treated her respect fully.
 And until now she had not thought to ask them who they were. or why they had made themselves so thor oughIy at home in her uncle's sitting e room.
 Now, however, the first shock over she began to wonder about them and about everything connected with the ranch-house and her uncle. And now, too, she realized she was alone in the house with the men.
 She had seen no one when she had ridden up. There had been no cattle in the cordals no horses, no signs of life until she had stepped to the open door of the sitting room to see the two men there.
 There was something strange about it all. She had spent all her days on a. ranch, and she knew that. as a rule, they had the deso1ate appear ance of the Circle Dot
 She sat rigid. looking straight at the man near the door, and watch ing from the corners of her eyes, the other man at the window.
 The girl was aware of the danger that confronted her. And yet she gave no outward indication of the fact. She knew that diplomacy only would save her-dip1omacy and cour- age. In that way only could she gain time.
 She smiled faint1y, then cleared her throat to make sure her voice would be steady.
 When did Uncle Gaylord die?'' she questioned.
 itLast week. answered the tall man. He seemed to be surprised at the cool evenness of her tones, and shot a quick glance at the other man Then he looked at Gan again mar rowly.
 He didn't die, ma'am," he went on. That is. he didn't die regular. Me an Lowrey found him one night on the porch. He was shot plumb through the heart. With his owr gun, too. reckon, We found it layin beside hin-one chamber empty"
 'I reckon he must have, ma'am Looks mighty like he did. You see there was his gun layin' beside him an the note on the dinin'-room table
 Note?" she repeated,
 "I forgot we didn't show it to you Iowreyu get it for you"
 The man at the window went into another room and returned immedi ately with a paper, which he hand ec to Gail, sm1rkfng odiously at her a. did so. The fact that the tall mar had sent the other for the note in stead of going himself convinced Gai that her predicament was indeed pre- carious
 She read the letter, every nerv, and muscle of her body cringing ane quivering with dread:
 To my Niece, Gail Fane:
 By the time you get this I'll be dead .s I reckon-if I ain't forgot how t shoot I ain't been in good healtl lately, and I've got a bit tired of it So I'm going outright. This not is to tell you that I've prepared ev erything for you by turning every thing over to Jay Corwin of Lared City. You won't have no troubI finding him He's superintende en of the Green River Stage Line run ming into Laredo. and a bang-u friend of mine. The note is to let yo know that he's your guardian. IT care of until you're twenty-ont You'll wise up in a year. Then yo can take hold. I've got some enc mics around here. so you'd bette trust Corwin 6 heap. He'll give yo a fair shake. That's all I reckon.
 So long
 Gaylord Fame.
 Gail stared long al the note afte reading it. She could feel the tw men watching her. They were, sh surnlised, some of the enemies whom her uncle referred
 She laid the note on the table an looked from one to the other of th two men.
 "I presume Jay Corwin sent yo men over here to look after I'll uncle's body?"
 T reckon not" the tall man al svered. Nobody sent us we'l Circle Dot men-foreman an stra boss, reSpective-me bein' forema My names Cuniff-Bul Cuniff N heard or Fame tellin' as how his niet