IN THE SHADOW OF THE HILLS

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

THE PRINCESS OF FORGE

THE ISLE OF STRIFE

THE INCORRIGIBLE DUKANE

THE LADY OF MYSTERY HOUSE

THE INVISIBLE ENEMY

IN THE SHADOW OF THE HILLS

IN THE SHADOW OF THE HILLS

BY

GEORGE C. SHEDD

AUTHOR OF

"THE LADY OF MYSTERY HOUSE, " ETC. 

NEW YORK

THE MACAULAY COMPANY

Copyright, 1919, By THE MACAULAY COMPANY

COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY THE FRANK A. MUNSEY CO. 

CONTENTS

 CHAPTER PAGE I IN A HOSTILE COUNTRY 11 II A COMEDY--AND SOMETHING ELSE 23 III THE ENEMY'S SPAWN 34 IV A SECRET CONFERENCE 42 V A SHOT IN THE DARK 53 VI JANET HOSMER 64 VII IN THE COIL 75 VIII THE GATHERING STORM 83 IX AN UNEXPECTED ALLY 91 X BY RIGHT OF POSSESSION 99 XI JANET AND MARY 107 XII THE PLOT 116 XIII THE CURRENT OF EVENTS 121 XIV OLD SAUREZ' DEPOSITION 135 XV THE MASK DROPPED 145 XVI WEIR TAKES UP THE HUNT 158 XVII EARTH'S RETRIBUTION 167 XVIII IN THE NIGHT WATCHES 177 XIX A QUEER PAPER 189 XX ANXIETIES 197 XXI THE WEAK LINK 209 XXII AN OLD ADOBE HOUSE 219 XXIII WITH FANGS BARED 226 XXIV THE ALARM 238 XXV NO QUARTER 248 XXVI THE THUNDERBOLT 256 XXVII WEIR STRIKES WHILE THE IRON IS HOT 261 XXVIII VORSE 270 XXIX THE FOURTH MAN 279 XXX THE VICTOR 286 XXXI A FINAL CHALLENGE 294 XXXII THE RECLUSE 304 XXXIII UNDER THE MOON 314

IN THE SHADOW OF THE HILLS

CHAPTER I

IN A HOSTILE COUNTRY

Eastward out of the Torquilla Range the Burntwood River emerged from agorge, flowing swift and turbulent during the spring months, shallowand murmurous the rest of the year, to pass through a basin formed bylow mountains and break forth at last from a canyon and wind away overthe mesa. In the canyon was being erected the huge reservoir dam whichwas in the future to store water for irrigating the broad acresspreading from its base. 

The construction camp rested on one of the hillsides above the dam. And here one summer afternoon a man stepped forth from the long lowtar-papered shack that served as headquarters, directing his gaze downthe road across the mesa at a departing automobile. He was SteeleWeir, the new chief, a tall, strong, tanned man of thirty-five, withlean smooth-shaven face, a straight heavy nose, mouth that by habitwas set in grim lines, and heavy brows under which ruled cold, level, insistent, gray eyes. He had come suddenly, unexpectedly, returningwith Magney, the engineer in charge, when the latter had been summonedeast for a conference with the company's directors. He had replacedMagney, who was now whirling away to the nearest railway point, Bowenville, thirty-five miles distant. 

He thoughtfully watched the car, a black spot in a haze of dust, speeding towards the New Mexican town of San Mateo, on the BurntwoodRiver two miles below camp, its cluster of brown adobe houses showingindistinctly through the cottonwoods that embowered the place. ForMagney he felt a certain amount of sympathy, for the engineer wasleaving with a recognition of defeat; he was a likeable man, as SteeleWeir had discovered during their brief acquaintance, a goodtheoretical engineer, but lacking in the prime quality of a successfulchief--fighting spirit and an indomitable will. 

Under Magney the work of construction had been inaugurated theprevious summer, but progress had not been as rapid as desired; therehad been delays, labor difficulties, local opposition during themonths since; and Weir had been chosen to succeed Magney. In hisprofession Weir had a reputation, built on relentless toil and soundideas and daring achievements--a reputation enhanced by a character ofmystery, for the man was unmarried, reserved, without intimates oreven friends, locking his lips about his life, and welcoming andexecuting with grim indifference to risk engineering commissions ofextreme hazard, on which account he had acquired the soubriquet of"Cold Steel" Weir. 

Who first bestowed upon Weir that name is not known. But it was notmisapplied. Cold steel he had proved himself to be a score of times incritical moments when other men would have broken: in pushing bridgesover mountain chasms, in mine disasters, in strikes, in almosthopeless fights against bandits in Mexico. And it was this ability tohandle difficulties that had brought about the decision of thedirectors of the company to put him in charge, as the man bestqualified, at San Mateo, where the situation was unsatisfactory, costly, baffling. 

Since his arrival a week before he had been consulting with Magney, studying maps and blue-prints, examining the work and analyzinggeneral conditions. What had been accomplished had been well done; hehad no criticism to offer on that score. It was the delay; the workwas considerably behind schedule, which of course meant excessivecost; and this had undermined the spirit of the enterprise. In a dozenplaces, in a dozen ways, Magney, his predecessor, had been hampered, checked, defeated--and the main contributing cause was poor workmen, inefficient work. On that sore Weir's skillful finger fell at once. 

Standing there before the low office building he watched Magneydepart. He, Steele Weir, had now taken over full charge of the campand assumed full responsibility for the project's failure or success. His eye passed beyond the distant automobile to the town of SanMateo--a new town for him, but a town like many he had seen in thesouthwest and in Mexico. And aside from its connection with theconstruction work, it held a fascinating interest, a profound interestfor the man, the interest that any spot would which has at a distancecast a black and sinister shadow over one's life. San Mateo--the namelay like a smoldering coal in his breast!

At length he turned and strode down the hillside to the dam site inthe canyon. The time had come to shut his hand about the work and lethis hold be felt. He located the superintendent directing the pouringof concrete in the frames of the dam core, Atkinson, a man of fiftywith a stubby gray mustache, a wind-bitten face and a tall angularframe. When Weir joined him he was observing with speculative eyes theindolent movements of a group of Mexican laborers. 

"Those _hombres_ don't appear to be breaking any speed records, Isee, " Weir remarked, quietly. 

"Humph, " Atkinson grunted. 

"What do they think this is? A rest cure?"

The superintendent's silence suddenly gave way. 

"I ought to land on 'em with an ax-handle and put the fear of God intheir lazy souls, " he exclaimed, bitterly. 

"Well, do it. "

"What!"

"Do it. "

"Say, am I hearing right?" Atkinson swung fully about to stare at thenew chief. Then he went on, "They'd quit to a man if made to do aman's work; I supposed that Magney had told you that. A dozen timesI've been ready to throw up my job from self-respect; I'm ashamed toboss work where men can loaf and I must keep my tongue between myteeth. I was considering just now the matter of leaving. "

"No need, Atkinson. From this time these men will work or get theirdismissal. "

The other pushed his hat atilt and rubbed his head in surprise. 

"What about that 'company policy' of hiring nothing but local labor tokeep the community friendly which Magney was always kicking about?" heasked. "That was what made him sorer than anything else, and beat him. He said the directors had tied his hands by promising that no workmenshould be imported. If they promised that, they sure bunkoedthemselves. Friendly, huh. "

"The people haven't been friendly, eh?" Weir said. 

"Does it look like it when these Mexicans won't work enough to earntheir salt? They openly boast that we dare neither make them worknor fire them. They say Sorenson and his bunch will pull every man offthe works if we lift a finger; and they all know about that foolpromise of the directors. Friendly? Just about as friendly as abunch of wildcats. This whole section, white men and Mexicans, areputting a knife into this project whenever they can. Do you think theywant all that mesa fenced up and farmed? This is a range country;they propose to keep it range; they don't want any more peoplecoming here--farmers, store-keepers, and white people generally. "

"That's always the case in a range country before it's opened up, "Weir said. "But they have to swallow the pill. "

"Let me tell you something; they don't intend to swallow it here. Theyfigure on keeping this county just as it is, for only themselves andtheir cattle and woolies, and everybody else keep out. The few bigsheep and cattle men, white and Mex, have their minds made up to that, and they're the only ones who count; all the rest are poor Mexicanswith nothing but fleas, children, goats and votes to keep Sorenson andhis gang in control. They've set out to bust this company, or tire itout till it throws up the sponge. They've spiked Magney, and they'lltry to spike you next, and every manager who comes. That's plain talkI'm giving you, Mr. Weir, but it's fact; and if it doesn't sound niceto your ears, you can have my resignation any minute. "

"I've been hoping to hear it. From now on drive this crowd ofcoffee-colored loafers. Put the lash on their backs. "

A gleam of unholy joy shone in Atkinson's eyes as he heard Weir'swords. 

"All right; that goes, " he said. "But I'm warning you that they'llquit. You'll see 'em stringing out of camp for home to-night, andthose who hang out till to-morrow will leave then for sure. Byto-morrow night the dam will be as quiet as a church week-days. They'll not show up again, either, until you send word for them tocome back--and then they'll know you've surrendered. Magney tried itonce, just once. And that's why you found me chewing tobacco solamb-like and saying nothing. "

"Turn your gat loose, " Weir said. And turning on his heel, he wentback to headquarters. 

Before Atkinson fired a volley at the unsuspecting workmen he crossedthe canyon to where a cub engineer was peering through a transit. Thesuperintendent had overheard a scrap of gossip among the staff oneevening before Weir's arrival when they were discussing the advent ofthe new chief. 

"What was that name you fellows were saying Weir was called by?" heasked. 

The boy straightened up. 

"'Cold Steel'--'Cold Steel' Weir. Anyway that's what Fergueson says, "was the answer. "I never heard it before myself. His first name'sSteele, you know, and he looks cold enough to be ice when he's askingquestions about things, boring into a fellow with his eyes. But he'sup against a hard game here. "

"Maybe. But a man doesn't get a name like that for just parting hishair nice, " Atkinson remarked. "He told me to stretch 'em"--a hornythumb jerked towards the workmen--"and you'll see some real workhereabouts for the rest of the afternoon. "

"And to-morrow will be Sunday three days ahead of time. "

"Sure. "

"What then?"

"You know as much about that as I do. Make your own guess. " With whichthe speaker started off. 

The morrow was "Sunday" with a vengeance. The majority of the laborersdemanded their pay checks the minute work ceased at the end of theafternoon; Atkinson tightened orders, and by noon next day the last ofthe Mexicans had quit. The fires in the stationary engines werebanked; the concrete mixers did not revolve; the conveyers were still;the dam site wore an air of abandonment. In headquarters the engineersworked over tracings or notes; and in the commissary store thehalf-dozen white foremen gathered to smoke and yarn. That was theextent of the activity. 

Two days passed. After dinner Weir held a terse long-distancetelephone conversation, the only incident of the second day; and itwas overheard by no one. On the fourth day this was repeated. At dawnof the fifth he despatched all of the foremen, enginemen and engineerswith wagons to Bowenville; and about the middle of the afternoon, accompanied by his assistant, Meyers, and Atkinson, he sped in themanager's car down the river for San Mateo, two miles below the camp. 

Of the town Steele Weir had had but a glimpse as he flashed through onhis way to the dam the morning of his arrival twelve days earlier. Ithad but a single main street, from which littered side streets andalleys ran off between mud walls of houses. The county court house satamong cottonwood trees in an open space. A few pretentious dwellings, homes of white men and the well-to-do Mexicans, arose among long lowadobe structures that were as brown and characterless as the sun-driedbricks of which they were built. That was San Mateo. 

Before doors and everywhere along the street workmen from the dam wereidling. As Meyers brought the automobile to a stop before the courthouse, news of Weir's visit spread miraculously and Mexicans began tosaunter forward to hear the engineer's words of surrender, couched inthe form of a suave invitation to return to work. While the crowdgathered the three Americans sat quietly in the car. Then Steele Weirstood up. 

"Who can speak for these men?" he demanded. 

A lean Mexican with a long shiny black mustache and a thin neckprotruding from a soiled linen collar elbowed a way to the front. 

"I'm authorized to speak for them, " he announced, disclosing his whiteteeth in an engaging smile. 

"Are you one of the workmen?"

"No. I'm a lawyer and represent them in this controversy. By yourfavor therefore let us proceed. You've come to persuade them to resumework, and that is well. But there are conditions to be agreed uponbefore they return, which with your permission I shall state--first, no harsh driving of the workmen by foremen; second, full wages for thedays they have been idle; third, no Sunday work. "

The engineer regarded the speaker without change of countenance. 

"Have you finished?" he asked. 

"Yes. There are minor matters, but they can be adjusted later. Theseare the important points. "

"Very well, this is my reply: I, not the workmen, make the terms forwork on this job--I, not these men, name the conditions on which theymay return. And they are as follows: no pay for the idle days; if theworkmen return they agree to work as ordered by superintendent andforemen; and last, they must start for the dam within an hour or notat all. "

Incredulity, amazement rested on the Mexican spokesman's face as helistened to this curt rejoinder. 

"Preposterous, impossible, absurd!" he exclaimed. Then revolving onhis heels so as to face the crowd he swiftly repeated in Spanish whatWeir had said. 

An angry stir followed, murmurs, sullen looks, a number of oaths andjeers. The lawyer turned again to the engineer, spreading his hands ina wide gesture and lifting his brows with exaggerated significance. 

"You see, Mr. Weir, your position is hopeless, " he remarked. 

"Ask them if they definitely refuse. "

The lawyer put the question to the crowd. A chorus of shoutsvehemently gave affirmation--a refusal immediate, disdainful, unanimous. 

"We'll now discuss the men's terms, " the lawyer remarked politely andwith an air of satisfaction. 

"There's nothing more to discuss. The matter is settled. They haverefused; they need not seek work at the dam again. Start the car, Meyers. "

The roar of the machine drowned the indignant lawyer's protest, thecrowd hastened to give an opening and the conference was at an end. 

"Drive to Vorse's saloon; I want a look at Vorse, " said Weir. "I seethe place a short way ahead. "

When they entered the long low adobe building an anemic-appearingMexican standing at the far end of the bar languidly started forwardto serve them, but a bald-headed, hawk-nosed man seated at a deskbehind the cigar-case laid aside his newspaper, arose and checked theother by a sidewise jerk of his head. 

He received their orders for beer and lifted three dripping bottlesfrom a tub of water at his feet. His eyes passed casually over SteeleWeir's face, glanced away, then came back for a swift unblinkingscrutiny. The eyes his own met were as hard, stony and inscrutable ashis own. Finally Vorse, the saloon-keeper, turned his gaze towards thewindow and extracting a quill tooth-pick from a vest pocket beganthoughtfully to pick his teeth. 

"You're the new manager at the dam?" he asked presently, stillconsidering the street through the window. 

"I am. "

"And your name is Weir?"

"You've got it right. "

The questions ended there. The three men from camp slowly consumedtheir beer and exchanged indifferent remarks. At the end of fiveminutes the Mexican lawyer, clutching the arm of an elderly, gray-mustached man, entered the saloon. 

They lined up at the bar nearby the others. The older of the pairregarded the trio shrewdly, laid a calf-bound book that he carriedunder his arm upon the counter and ordered "a little bourbon. " When hehad swallowed this, he addressed the men from the engineering camp. 

"Which of you is Mr. Weir?"

"I am he, " Steele replied. 

"Mr. Martinez here has solicited me, Mr. Weir, to use my offices inexplaining to you the workmen's point of view in the controversy thatexists relative to the work. I'm Senator Gordon, a member of the statelegislature, and I have no interest in the matter beyond seeing anamicable and just arrangement effected. "

Steele Weir fixed his eyes on the speaker with an intentness, a coldpenetration, that seemed to bore to the very recesses of his mind. Inthat look there was something questioning and something menacing. 

"There's no controversy and hence no need of your services. The menstopped work, refused to return, and now the case is closed. "

"My dear sir, let us talk it over, " said the Senator, bringing forth apair of spectacles and setting the bow upon his nose. 

The engineer's visage failed to relax at this pacific proposal. 

"I gave them their chance and they declined; they'll have no other, "he stated. "Those men have browbeaten the company long enough. Theyrefused, and as I anticipated that refusal I made preparationsaccordingly; a hundred and fifty white workmen arrived at Bowenvillefrom Denver this morning and a hundred and fifty more will cometo-morrow. They will do the work. "

The Senator's lips quivered and the upper one lifted in a movementlike a snarl, showing tobacco-stained teeth. 

"The matter isn't closed, understand that, " he snapped out. "We havethe directors' promise no outside labor shall be brought in here forthis job, and the promise shall be kept. "

"The new men go to work in the morning, " Weir said. 

"You'll repent of this action, young man, you'll repent of it. " TheSenator seized the whisky bottle and angrily poured himself a seconddrink. "You'll repent of it as sure as your name is--is--whatever itis. "

The engineer took a step nearer the older man. His face now was ashard as granite. 

"Weir is my name, " he said. "Did you ever hear it before?"

"Weir--Weir?" came in a questioning mutter. 

"Yes, Weir. "

The speaker's eyes held the Senator's in savage leash, and a slighttremble presently began to shake the old man. Atkinson and Meyers andeven the volatile Mexican lawyer, Martinez, remained unstirring, forin the situation they suddenly sensed something beyond their ken, somecurrent of deep unknown forces, some play of fierce, obscure andfateful passion. 

A shadow of gray stole over Gordon's lineaments. 

"You are--are the son of----" came gasping forth. 

"I am. His son. "

"And--and----"

"And I know what happened thirty years ago in this selfsame room!"

The whisky that the Senator had poured into his glass suddenly sloppedover his fingers; his figure all at once appeared more aged, hollow, bent. Without further word, with his hand still shaking, he set theglass on the bar, mechanically picked up the law book and walkedfeebly towards the door. 

Steele Weir turned his gaze on the saloon-keeper, Vorse. The man'sright hand was under the bar and he seemed to be awaiting theengineer's next move, taut, tight-lipped, malignant. 

"That was for you too, Vorse, " was flung at him. "One Weir went out ofhere, but another has returned. "

And he led his companions away. 

CHAPTER II

A COMEDY--AND SOMETHING ELSE

Towards noon one day a week later Steele Weir, headed for Bowenvillein his car, had gained Chico Creek, half way between camp and SanMateo, when he perceived that another machine blocked the ford. Aboutthe wheels of the stalled car the shallow water rippled briskly, fouror five inches deep; entirely deep enough, by all appearances, to keepmarooned in the runabout the girl sitting disconsolately at thewheel. 

She was a very attractive-looking girl, Steele noted casually as hebrought his own car to a halt and sprang out to join her, wading thewater with his laced boots. As he approached he perceived that she hada slender well-rounded figure, fine-spun brown hair under her hatbrim, clear brown eyes and the pink of peach blossoms in her softsmooth cheeks. 

But her look of relief vanished when she distinguished his face andher shoulders squared themselves. 

"Has your engine stopped?" he inquired. 

"Yes. "

"I'll look into the hood. "

"I prefer that you would not. "

For an instant surprise marked his countenance. 

"You mean that you desire to remain here?" he asked. 

"I don't wish to remain here, but I choose that in preference to youraid. "

The man, who had bent forward to lift one cover of the engine, straightened up at that. He considered her intently and in silencefor a time, marking her heightened color, the haughty poise of herhead, the firm set of her lips. 

"To my knowledge, I never saw you before in my life, " he remarked atlast. "What, may I ask, is your particular reason for declining myservices?"

She was dumb for a little, while she tucked back a stray tendril ofhair. The act was performed with the left hand; and Weir's eyes, whichseldom missed anything, observed a diamond flash on the third finger. 

"Well, I'd choose not to explain, " said she, afterwards, "but if youinsist----"

"I don't insist, I merely request ... Your highness. "

A flash of anger shot from her eyes at this irony. 

"Don't think I'm afraid to tell you!" she cried. "It's because you'rethe manager of the construction camp; and if you've never seen mebefore, I've at least had you pointed out to me. I wish no assistancefrom the man who turns off his poor workmen without excuse or warning, and brings want and trouble upon the community. It was like strikingthem in the face. And then you break your promise not to bring inother workmen!"

As she had said, she did not lack courage. Her words gushed forth in atorrent, as if an expression of pent up and outraged justice, disclosing a fervent sympathy and a fine zeal--and, likewise, a fineignorance of the facts. 

"Well, why don't you say something?" she added, when he gave noindication of replying. 

Steele could have smiled at this feminine view of the matter thatviolent assertions required affirmations or denials. 

"What am I supposed to say?" he asked. 

Apparently that exhausted her patience. 

"You'll please molest me no longer, " she stated, icily. 

"Very well. "

He raised the hood and inspected the engine. During his attempts tostart it, she sat nonchalantly humming an air and gazing at themountains as if her mind were a thousand miles away--which it wasnot. 

"Something wrong; it will have to be hauled in, " said he finally. 

No reply. Steele returned to his own car and descending into the creekbed worked his way around her. When he was on the far bank, herejoined her again, carrying a coil of rope. One end of this hefastened securely to the rear axle of her runabout. 

"What are you going to do, sir?" she demanded, whirling about on herseat and glaring angrily. 

"Drag you out. "

"You'll do nothing of the kind!"

"Oh, yes, " was his calm response. 

"Against my wishes, sir?"

"Certainly. "

"This is abominable!"

"Perhaps. "

"I'll put on the brakes. " And put them on she did, with a savagejerk. 

But nevertheless Weir's powerful machine drew her car slowly up out ofthe creek upon the road, where he forced it about until it pointedtowards San Mateo. Then he retied the rope on the front axle. 

"Now for town, " said he. 

"Why did you haul me out of there, I demand to know?"

"Why? Because you were a public obstruction blocking traffic. If youhad remained there long enough you would have become a publicnuisance; and it's the duty of every citizen to abate nuisances. Noone would call you a nuisance, of course, --not to your face, at anyrate. But travelers might have felt some annoyance if compelled todrive around you; they might even have had you arrested when theylearned you were acting out of willful stubbornness. "

In a sort of incredulous wonder, of charmed horror, the girl heardherself thus unfeelingly described. 

"You--you barbarian!" she cried. 

"Ready? We're off for town now. "

"I'll run my car in the ditch and wreck it if you so much as pull itanother inch!"

"I don't like to be frustrated in my generous acts; they are so few, according to common report. Well, we'll leave the car, but it must bedrawn off the road. "

When this was accomplished, Weir replaced the rope in his machine. Then he returned to her. 

"What now? Do you intend to sit here in the hot sunshine, to saynothing of missing your dinner?"

"That doesn't concern you. "

Weir shook his head gravely. 

"You must be saved from your own folly, " said he. 

Before she had realized what was happening, he had opened the door ofthe runabout, swung her out upon the ground and was marching hertowards his own machine. Stupefaction at this quick, atrocious deedleft her an automaton; and before she had fully regained her controlthey were speeding towards San Mateo, she at his side. 

"This is outrageous!" she gasped. 

Steele Weir did not speak until they entered town. 

"Where is your home?" he asked. 

"Turn to the right at the end of the street. "

It was before a house of modern structure, banked with a bewilderingnumber of flowers and shaded by trees, that he halted the car. Healighted, bared his head, assisted her to descend, bowed and thenwithout a word drove away, leaving her to stare after him with abaffling mixture of feelings and the single indignant statement, "Andhe didn't even wait long enough for me to thank him!" Nor did herperplexity lessen when her car was left before the door during theafternoon by one of the camp mechanics to whom Weir had telephonedfrom San Mateo and who had put it in running order. 

Weir himself proceeded to Bowenville, where matters regardingshipments and the unloading of machinery engaged him the rest of theday. Into his mind, however, there floated at moments the image of thegirl's face, banish it as he would. He had learned her name by askingwho was the owner of the house where she had alighted, informationnecessary to direct the mechanic as to the delivery of the stalledcar. Hosmer it was; and the residence was that of Dr. Hosmer. Presumably she was his daughter. And what a vivid, charming, never-surrender enemy! Lucky the chap who had won this high-spiritedgirl. 

The memory of her eyes and her personality was still with him whenhe ate his supper that evening in a restaurant in Bowenville. His ownpast in relation to the other sex had been starred by no loveaffair, not even by episodes of a sentimental nature; the character ofhis work had for long periods kept him away from women's society, but further than this there was the shadow upon his life, the shadowof mystery that obliged him to follow a solitary course. Heconsidered himself unfree to seek friendships or favors among women. By every demand of honor he was bound to solicit no girl's trust oraffection until that mystery was cleared and his father's innocenceestablished. It was for this reason that he seemed even to himself togrow more hard, more harsh, more silent and aloof, until at last hehad come to believe that no fair face had the power to arouse hisinterest or to quicken his pulse. 

But now, this girl he had met at the ford!

Long-stifled emotions struggled in his breast. Sleeping desires awoke. His spirit swelled like a caged thing within the shell of years ofindurated habit. A strange restlessness pervaded him. He had a fiercepassion somehow to rip in pieces the gray drab pattern of hiscommonplace life. 

Perhaps it was this revolt against the fetters of fate that caused himto welcome the chance for action that presently was offered. Therestaurant was of an ordinary type, with a lunch counter at one side, a row of tables down the middle and half a dozen booths along the walloffering some degree of privacy. In one of these Steele Weir wassmoking a cigar and finishing his coffee before making his ride backto camp. From the booth adjoining he had for some time been hearingscraps of conversation; now all at once the voices rose in protest andin answering explanation, in perplexed appeal and earnest assurance. 

Weir's own reflections ceased. His head turned and remained fixed tolisten, while the cigar grew cold between his fingers. For ten minutesor so his attitude of concentrated harkening to the two voices, agirl's and a man's, remained unchanged. Little by little he waspiecing out the thread of the confidential dialogue--and of the littledrama being enacted in the booth. 

His brows became lowering as he gathered its significance, his lipsdrew together in a tight thin line. He did not move when he heard theman push back his chair to leave the place, nor alter his positionuntil there came the sound of the door closing at the front of therestaurant. Then he reached for his hat, stood up and went lightlyaround into the other booth, where he pulled the green calico curtainacross the opening. 

A girl of about seventeen, of plump clean prettiness, still sat at thetable, which was littered with dishes. The cheap finery of her hat anddress showed a pathetic attempt to increase her natural comeliness. Atthis minute her face showed amazement and a hint of apprehension. 

"What are you coming in here for?" she demanded. 

"I want to talk to you for a little while, " Weir replied, seatinghimself. "You will please listen. I've overheard enough of your talkto catch its drift; you came here to be married, but now this manwants to induce you to go to Los Angeles first. "

"That isn't any of your business, " the girl flashed back, going whiteand red by turns. 

"I'm making it mine, however. You live up on Terry Creek, by what Iheard; that's not far from my camp. I'm manager at the dam and myname's Weir. "

At this statement the girl shrank back, beginning to bite the hem ofher handkerchief nervously and gazing at him with terrified eyes. 

"I'm here to help you, not harm you. You've run away from home to-dayto marry this fellow. Did he promise to marry you if you came toBowenville?"

"Yes. "

"And now he wants you to go with him to Los Angeles first, promisingto marry you there?"

The girl hesitated, with a wavering look. 

"Yes. "

"He gives you excuses, of course. But they don't satisfy your mind, do they? They don't satisfy mine, at any rate. It's the old trick. Suppose when you reached the coast he didn't marry you after all andput you off with more promises and after a week or two abandonedyou?"

"Oh, he wouldn't do that!" she cried, with a gulp. 

"That's just what he is planning. He didn't meet you here until afterdark, I judge. You'll both go to the train separately--I overheardthat part. Afterwards he could return from the coast and deny that hehad ever had anything to do with you, and it would simply be your wordagainst his. And which would people hereabouts believe, tell me that, which would they believe, yours or his, after you had gone wrong?"

The girl sat frozen. Then suddenly she began to cry, softly and withjerks of her shoulders. Weir reached out and patted her arm. 

"What's your name?" he asked. 

"Mary--Mary Johnson. "

"Mary, I'm interfering in your affairs only because I know what menwill do. You must take no chances. If this fellow is really anxious tomarry you, he'll do it here in Bowenville. "

After a few sobs she wiped her eyes. 

"He said he didn't dare get the license in San Mateo, or his folkswould have stopped our marriage. "

"Then you should stay here to-night, go to the next county seat and bemarried to-morrow. His parents are bound to learn about it once you'remarried. A few days more or less make no difference. And though Ishould return to my work, I'll just stay over a day and take you in mycar to-morrow to see that you're married straight and proper. Why goclear to Los Angeles?"

"He said it would be our honeymoon--and--and I had never been awayfrom here. "

"What's his name?"

She hesitated in uncertainty whether or not she should answer. 

"Ed Sorenson, " came at last from her lips. 

Steele Weir slowly thrust his head forward, fixing her with burningeyes. 

"Son of the big cattleman?" he demanded. 

"Yes, sir. "

"And you love him?"

"Yes, oh, yes!"

Weir sat back in his seat, lighted a cigarette and stared past herhead at the opposite partition. The evil strain of the father had beencontinued in the son and was working here to seduce this simple, ignorant girl, incited by her physical freshness and the expectationthat she should be easy prey. 

"Well, I doubt if he loves you, " he said, presently. 

"He does, he does!"

"If he really does above everything else in the world, he'll bewilling to marry you openly, no matter what his father may say or do. That's the test, Mary. If he's in earnest, he'll agree at once to gowith us to the next county seat to-morrow and be married there by aminister. Isn't that true? Answer me that squarely; isn't it true?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Then by that we'll decide. If he agrees, well and good; if herefuses, that will show him up--show he never had any intention ofmarrying you. I'm a stranger to you, but I'm your friend. And you'renot going to Los Angeles unmarried!"

The last words were uttered in a level menacing tone that caused MaryJohnson to shiver. To her, reared in the humble adobe house on herfather's little ranch on Terry Creek, a man who could manage the greatirrigation project seemed a figure out of her ken, a vast form workingagainst the sky. His statements were not to be disputed, whatever shemight think. 

"Yes, sir, " she said, just above a whisper. 

"All right. Now we'll wait for him. He was coming back for you, wasn'the?"

"Yes. I was to stay at the hotel till train time. "

"Is this your grip?"

Weir jerked a thumb towards a worn canvas "telescope" fastened with asingle shawl strap, resting in the corner of the booth. 

"It's mine. Yes, sir. "

"How old is Ed Sorenson, " he asked, after a pause. 

"About thirty, maybe. "

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen next month. "

"But sixteen yet this month. "

"Yes, sir. "

He said nothing more. As the minutes passed, her timorous gazecontinued steadfastly on the stern countenance before her. She dullyexpected something terrible to happen when Ed Sorenson appeared, forshe knew Ed would be angry; but she had been powerless to prevent theintrusion of this terrible stranger. 

Fear, in truth, a fear that left her heart cold, was her feeling asshe contemplated Weir. Yet under that, was there not something else? Asense of safety, of comforting assurance of protection?

"You--you won't hurt Ed if he won't go with us?" she asked, in a lowvoice. "If he gets mad and won't marry me here, I mean?"

The man's eyes came round to hers. 

"I'll just break him in two, nothing more, Mary, " was the calmanswer. 

CHAPTER III

THE ENEMY'S SPAWN

The curtain to the booth was flung back. 

"I've the train tickets; come along to the hotel----" exclaimed theman who quickly entered. But the words died in his mouth at sight ofWeir sitting in the place he had vacated. 

He was over average height, of strong fleshy build, with a smallblonde mustache on his upper lip. Under his eyes little pouches hadalready begun to form; his mouth was full and sensual; but he stillretained an air of liveliness, of carelessness and agility, that mightat first sight seem the spontaneity of youth. He wore a brown suit, agray flannel shirt and Stetson hat--the common apparel of thecountry. 

"Who the devil are you? And what are you butting in here for?" heexclaimed, with a vicious spark showing in his pale blue eyes. At thesame time he clapped a hand on Weir's shoulder, closing it in a hardgrasp. 

Instantly Weir struck the hand off with his fist. 

"Keep your dirty flippers to yourself, " he said, rising. 

The blood faded from the other's countenance, leaving it white withrage. 

"Get out of this booth, or I'll throw you out. "

It was Weir's turn to act. Like a flash he caught Sorenson's elbow, jerked him forward, spun him about and dropped him upon the chair. 

"Sit there, you cradle-robber, until I'm through with you, " hecommanded. "And if you don't want everybody in this restaurant to knowabout your business with this girl, you'll lower your voice when youtalk. "

Sorenson shot an uneasy glance towards the curtain and his wrathbecame not less furious but better controlled. Clearly publicattention was the last thing he desired in this affair. He leanedback, staring at Steele Weir insolently, and produced a cigarette, atwhich he began to puff. 

"Mary, get ready. We'll be going in a minute, " said he. 

"No, you'll not, Sorenson. I've taken a hand in your game. This girlsays you're going to marry her, is that right?" The other rolled hiseyes upward and began to whistle a jig tune softly. "Well, this is theplan she and I've made. She'll remain at the hotel to-night--as willyou and I--and to-morrow we'll drive to another county seat in my carand you'll secure a licence there. Then you'll go to a minister's, where I'll act as a witness, and the ceremony will be performed. Afterwards the pair of you can proceed to Los Angeles, or elsewhere asyou please, on your wedding journey. "

"You're quite a little planner, aren't you?" the other jeered. 

"That's the arrangement if you agree. "

"I don't agree. "

Mary Johnson, in whose eyes a light of hope had dawned during Weir'slow-toned statement, began nervously to bite her lip. 

"Won't you do it, Ed?" she asked, timidly. 

"We'll do as I planned, or nothing, " he stated. Then with sudden spitehe continued, "You're responsible for this mixup. What did you letthis fellow in here for while I was gone? Didn't you have senseenough to keep your mouth shut?"

Steele halted him by a gesture. 

"Don't begin abusing her; you're not married to her yet. I overheardyour talk and guessed the low-lived, scoundrelly trick you proposed toplay on her. "

"You damned eavesdropper----"

"Sure, eavesdropper is right, " Weir interrupted, coolly. "So I juststepped in here from my booth next door to discuss the situation withher; you can't mislead an innocent girl like her with the intention ofshaking her when you get her into a city, not if I know about it andam around. If you sincerely intend to marry her, and will do soto-morrow in my presence, then I'll withdraw. Afterwards I mean, ofcourse. "

Sorenson arose. 

"Come, Mary. Stand aside, you!"

"She doesn't go with you, " the engineer stated. 

For a moment the men's eyes locked, those of one full of blue fire andhatred, those of the other quiet as pieces of flint. 

"And she shall keep with me while I telephone to your father that youbrought her here under promise of marriage, a girl of sixteen, withouther own parents' consent, and now refuse to marry her, " Steele added. 

A sneer twisted the other man's mouth. 

"My father happens to be in the east, where he's been for a month, " hemocked. "If he were here, he wouldn't believe you; he'd know you werea liar. He knows I'm engaged to marry----" Bite off the words as hetried, they had escaped. 

"Ah, that's the way of it!" Weir remarked with a silky smoothness. "You expect to marry some other girl--and have no intention whateverof marrying Mary here. "

"To hell with you and your opinions!"

"First, you coax her to Bowenville by a promise, then you persuade herby more promises to go to Los Angeles, " the engineer proceededsteadily, "and there you would betray and abandon her to a life on thestreets, like the yellow cur you are. "

Sorenson snapped his fingers and moved round to the girl's side. 

"Pay no attention to him, " he addressed her. "He's only a crazyfool. "

But she drew back against the wall, staring at him with a strained, searching regard. 

"Will you marry me to-morrow as he asks?" she questioned anxiously. 

"No. I explained the reason why once. Come on; let's get away fromhim. Then I'll make everything clear and satisfactory to you. "

For a moment she stood wavering, picking at her handkerchief, her facepale and unhappy, questioning his countenance. Finally she turned tolook at Steele Weir, standing silently by. 

"You never said you were engaged to another girl; you told me I wasthe only one you loved, " she muttered in a choked voice. "But I seenow you won't marry me. You wish me to go with you--but not to marry. I'm going away--away anywhere. By myself! Where I'll never see anyone!" Burying her face in her hands, she shook with sobs. 

"This is what comes from your putting an oar in, " said Sorenson, lifting his fist in a burst of fury to strike Weir. 

The latter at once smote him across the mouth with open palm at thevile epithet that followed. Sorenson staggered, then lunged forward, tugging at something in his hip-pocket, while the table and disheswent over in a crash. 

Before he could draw the weapon Steele's fingers shot forth and seizedhis wrist; his other hand closed about Sorenson's throat in an irongrasp. Slowly under that powerful grip the younger man's strugglesceased, his eyes dilated, his knees yielded and gave way. The revolverwas wrenched from his numbed hold. His eyeballs seemed afire; hisbreast heaved in violent spasms for the denied breath; and his heartappeared about to burst. 

"You miserable skunk!" Weir said, barely moving his mouth. "I ought tochoke the life out of you. " Then he released his hold. "I'll keep thisgun--and use it if you ever try to pull another on me! Now, maketracks. Remember, too, to pay your bill as you go out. "

When Sorenson had straightened his coat, giving Weir a malignant lookduring the process, he departed. His air of disdainful insolence hadquite evaporated, but that he considered the action between them onlybegun was plain, though he spoke not a word. Weir, however, heard himgive a quieting explanation to the waiter hovering outside, who hadbeen drawn by the crash of dishes. 

"Thought a fight was going on, " the aproned dispenser of food said toSteele when he and the girl emerged. 

"Just an accident. Nothing broken, I imagine, " was the response. 

"You couldn't break those dishes with a hammer; they're made for roughwork. "

"If there's any damage, this may cover it. " And Steele tossed thefellow a dollar. 

Outside the restaurant he slipped his hand inside Mary Johnson's armand led her along the street. With him he had brought the old strappedgrip. 

"Where you taking me?" she asked, in a worried quaver. 

"Home, Mary. "

"Oh, I'm afraid to go home. "

"Are you afraid of your own father and mother? They're the ones totrust first of all. "

"But when father--mother is dead--sees the telescope, he'll want toknow where I've been. He doesn't know I have it. I told him I mightstay with a girl at San Mateo over night, and then sneaked it out. "

"The best thing is to tell him all about this occurrence. "

"Oh, I can't. "

"Then I shall. Leave that part to me. "

And though her heart was filled with fresh alarms and fears at theprospect, there seemed nothing else to do. She longed to flee, to hidein some dark hole, to cover her shame from her father and the world, but in the hands of this determined man she felt herself powerless. What he willed, she dumbly did. 

Terry Creek flowed out of the mountains four miles north of San Mateo, an insignificant stream entering the Burntwood halfway down toBowenville. The Johnson ranch house was a mile up the canyon, wherethe rocky walls expanded into a grassy park of no great area. Theyreached the girl's home about half-past nine that night. 

For two hours Weir remained talking with the father, describing theaffair at Bowenville, fending off his first bitter anger at the girland gradually persuading him to see that Mary had been deceived, luredaway on hollow promises and was guiltless of all except failing totake him into her confidence. At last peace was made. Mary wept for atime, and was patted on the head by her rough, bearded father, whoexclaimed, "There, there, don't cry. You're safe back again; we'lljust forget it. "

Outside of the house, however, where he had accompanied Weir to hiscar, he said with an oath:

"But I'll not forget Ed Sorenson, if I go to hell for it. My littlegirl!"

"She's half a child yet, that's the worse of his offense, " Steelereplied, savagely. 

"Mary said you choked him. "

"Some. Not enough. "

"I'll not forget him--or you, Mr. Weir. "

Steele mounted into his machine. He thoughtfully studied the rancher'sbearded, weather-tanned face, illuminated by the moonlight. 

"At present I'd say nothing about this matter to any one. Later on youmay be able to use it in squaring accounts, " the engineer advised. 

"I hope so, " was the answer, with a bitter note. "But talking wouldonly hurt Mary, not Ed Sorenson. Whatever the Sorensons do is allright, you know, because they're rich. The daughter of a poor man likeme would get all the black end of the gossip; and I can't lift afinger, that's what grinds me, unless I go out and shoot him, thenhang for it. For the bank's got a mortgage on my little bunch ofstock, and on my ranch here, and Sorenson, of course, is the bank. Gordon and Vorse and a few others are in it too, but he's the bull ofthe herd. If I opened my mouth about his son, I'd be kicked off ofTerry Creek, lock, stock and barrel. That's the way Sorenson keeps allof us poor devils, white and Mexican, eating out of his hand. I'vejust been poor since I came here a boy; the gang in San Mateo won'tlet anybody but themselves have a chance. And I reckon old manSorenson wouldn't care much if his boy had ruined my girl. Cuss him alittle, maybe; that would be all. But I won't forget the whelp. Someday my chance will come to play even. " "Sure; if one just keeps quietand waits, " Steele agreed. "Well, I must hit the trail. If you wantwork any time, come over to the dam; we can always use a man with ateam. " Johnson nodded. "After haying is done, maybe. And remember, I'mmuch obliged to you for looking after my little girl. I won't forgetthat, either. " He reached up diffidently and shook hands with theengineer. Weir's grip was sympathetic and sincere. 

CHAPTER IV

A SECRET CONFERENCE

On a certain afternoon Felipe Martinez, the lean and restless attorneywho had acted as the Mexican workmen's mouthpiece, observed throughthe broad plate-glass window of the San Mateo Cattle Company's officean incident that greatly interested him. For the moment he forgot theresentment kindled by Sorenson's abrupt refusal and brutal words whenhe asked for the nomination for county attorney. The election was inthe autumn; the nomination was equivalent to election; and Felipeconsidered that he had too long been kept apart from that particularspoil. 

Martinez had once had a slight difference with the banker, and nowoutrageously Sorenson had recalled it. He had stated that Martinezshould hold no political office; he gave offices only to men who didexactly as he advised; his exact words were that the Mexican was"tricky and no good. " And picking up his hat Sorenson who had that dayreturned home from the east went out of the bank, leaving Martinez tostare out of the window and meditatively twist a point of his silkyblack mustache. 

It was before the window that there occurred the meeting betweenSorenson and the manager of the dam. Martinez perceived the two menglance at each other and pass, but after a step or two both menhalted. As if worked by a single wire, they slowly swung about for asecond look. The Mexican's nimble brain calculated that they could nothave previously met and in consequence their behavior bespokesomething out of the ordinary. 

The pair stood exactly where they had turned, three or four pacesapart, he noted. The Mexican's mind palpitated with a slight thrill ofexcitement. The manner of each of the men was that of a fightinganimal looking over another animal of the same sort: neither utteringa word, nor stirring a finger, nor yielding a particle in his fixedunwinking gaze. Martinez could almost feel the exchanged challenge, the cold antagonism, the hostile curiosity, the matching of wills, theinstant hate, between the men. 

Though they had not met before, to be sure, nevertheless they wereenemies. Was it because of the discharge of the workmen? ThenMartinez' mind flashed back to the scene in Vorse's saloon when Gordonhad showed such sudden emotion at the engineer's name and hisenigmatical reference to some event in the past. That was it!Something which had occurred thirty years ago, probably somethingcrooked. Men committed deeds in those early days that they would nowlike to forget. He, Martinez, would look into the matter. 

Sorenson passed out of sight, and Weir likewise proceeded on his way. Thereupon the lawyer sauntered over to the court house, wherepresently he became engrossed in a pile of tomes in the register'soffice. As examining records is a part of a lawyer's regular work, itnever excites curiosity or arouses suspicion. 

That same evening Martinez perceived Vorse enter Sorenson's office. Vorse, he recalled, had been included in the engineer's threateningremarks to Gordon. Shortly thereafter Gordon himself ambled along thestreet and passed through the door. Last of all, Burkhardt, a short, fleshy, bearded man, went into the building. The vultures of SanMateo, as he secretly called them, had flocked together forconference. Presently Martinez strolled by the office, outwardlydisplaying no interest in the structure but furtively seeking to catcha glimpse of the interior through a crack of the drawn shade. But inthis he was unsuccessful. 

Of one thing he was certain, however. His prolonged examination of thecounty records had revealed an old bill of sale of a ranch and severalherds of cattle from one Joseph Weir to Sorenson, Vorse, Gordon andBurkhardt. He had placed his finger on the link connecting theengineer with these men, the entire four, as this old bill of salethus recorded showed the intimate though unexpressed partnership ofthe men, which was common knowledge over the country; and intuitiontold him also that this private assembly of the quartette quickly onSorenson's return home had its inspiration in the new manager of thedam. 

Martinez determined to continue his investigations. Events might yetprove that it would have been much better for the cattleman to havegiven him the political nomination. Truly, it was possible. In anycase, it would do no harm to have "something on" Sorenson and theothers, these rulers of San Mateo. And there was the opposite side ofthe affair--Weir's side; so it looked as if there might be profiteither way. 

 * * * * *

The four men sitting in the railed-off space in the San Mateo CattleCompany's office constituted the cattle company. Moreover, theycomprised the financial, political and general power of this remotesection of New Mexico. In face, manner, garb, they were dissimilar. Vorse, clothed in gray, was hawk-nosed and impassive; and though now, like his companions, wealthy beyond simple needs he neverthelesscontinued the operation of his saloon that had been a landmark in SanMateo for forty years. Burkhardt was rough-featured, rough-tongued, choleric, and coatless: typically the burly, uncurried, uncouthstock man, whose commonest words were oaths or curses and whose waywith obstinate cattle or men was the way of the club or the fist. Gordon was the wily, cautious, unscrupulous politician; he hadrepresented San Mateo in the legislature for years, both duringthe Territorial period and since New Mexico had become a state, andwas not unknown in other parts of the southwest; but he was "Judge"only by courtesy, the title most frequently given him, never havingbeen admitted to the bar or having practiced, and engaged himselfostensibly in the insurance and real estate business. Like theothers, his share of the large cattle, sheep and land holdings ofthe group made him independent. Sorenson, the last of the four andin reality the leader because of a greater breadth of vision and anatural capacity for business, was dressed in a tailored suit ofgreenish plaid--a man with bushy eyebrows, a long fleshy nose, predatory eyes, a heavy cat-fish mouth and a great, barrel-like bodythat reared two or three inches over six feet when he stood on hisfeet. But one thing they had in common, in addition to the gray hairof age, and that was a joint liability for the past. For years theyhad believed that liability extinguished through the operation oftime. They had considered as closed and sealed the account of earlysecret, lawless acts by which they had acquired wealth and a grip onthe community. They were now law-observing members of society; theycontrolled even if they sometimes failed to possess the goodwillof the county--and they were not men to measure position byfriendships; their councils determined how much or how little othermen should own and in local politics their fingers moved the puppetsthat served their will. 

With the entrance here of the powerful group of financiers who wereconstructing the irrigation project they recognized the threat totheir old-time supremacy. Cattle and sheep interests would succumb tofarming; a swarm of new, independent settlers would arrive likelocusts; and their leadership would eventually be challenged if notended. New towns would spring up. New money would flow in to disputetheir financial mastery. New leaders would arise to assail theirpolitical dominion. And against the prospect of all this they hadinitiated a secret warfare, endeavoring by stealth to ruin theirrigation company at the beginning and nip the danger in the bud. 

Now it had been revealed all at once that they had not only ageneral and impersonal enemy in the form of the company, but aspecific one in the form of a man, its manager. Out of nowhere hehad emerged, out of thirty years' silence, a sinister figure whotapped with significant finger the book of their secret past whilehis eyes steadfastly demanded a reckoning. Did he know all, ornothing? Knowing, did he deliberately leave them in doubt in orderto shatter their confidence?

At least one of the four had been badly shaken on learning Weir'sidentity, and all now were uneasy. It was as if Fate after a longsilence was about to open the sealed record. 

"Perhaps you were just imagining things, Judge, " Sorenson was saying. 

Senator Gordon moistened his lips and tugged nervously at his graymustache. 

"No, no, " he exclaimed. "Just ask Vorse. The man said his name wasWeir and that he was the son of Joe Weir. Then--then----"

"Well?" Sorenson demanded, frowning at the other's visible trepidation. 

"Weir added, 'And I know what happened thirty years ago in thisselfsame room. ' Those were his very words. Isn't that true, Vorse?"

"Yes. "

"They could mean only one thing, " said Gordon. 

"When the Judge went out he said to me, " Vorse stated, "'That was foryou too. ' I had my hand on my gun under the counter as he said it, ready if he made a move. He knew what I had there, but it didn't fazehim. He's a better man than Joe Weir ever was, I want to remark, anddifferent; he has nerve and a bad eye. He knows something, lay yourbets on that. "

"How much? How much? If we only knew how much!" Judge Gordonvouchsafed, testily. 

"How would he know anything? Joe Weir didn't know, so how can thisfellow know? Don't get scared at a shadow. " It was the bearded, rough-tongued Burkhardt who spoke, concluding his words with ablasphemous oath. 

"There's the Mexican who saw what happened--and that boy who looked inat the back door, " Gordon asserted. "We just caught sight of him andcouldn't make out his face against the light. Then he had skipped whenwe ran there. We never did learn who he was. "

"Do you think he remembers?" Sorenson said, scornfully. "He may bedead. He may be on the other side of the world. Just some kid whohappened to drift by at the minute and look in, and there's not onechance in a million he's anywhere around these parts yet. He wouldhave blabbed long ago to some one if he had been; don't figure him in, he's lost. "

"Saurez isn't, though. "

At this Vorse put in a word. 

"He saw more than one killing in those days when he was roustabout forme. It was only one more to him. Probably he has forgotten it. Anyway, " Vorse ended with deadly emphasis, "he knows what would happento him even now if he remembered it and talked. Leave him out of thecalculation too. "

"Then that just makes the four of us, " said Burkhardt. "Nobody else. So this fellow Weir doesn't know a thing. "

"But we can't be absolutely sure, " Judge Gordon replied. 

"Well, he'd need proof, wouldn't he?"

"Certainly, to bring legal action. But how do we know he hasn't eventhat? Look all around the question as a lawyer does; let us assume themillionth chance, for instance. Suppose that he somewhere met andbecame acquainted with that boy. Suppose that he learned the latterhad been here at the time and saw the shooting; and heard his story. Suppose that Weir knows this instant where he is and can produce himas a witness in court. "

"I reckon in this county his testimony wouldn't count for much, "Burkhardt, who had been sheriff, stated, with a harsh laugh. 

Sorenson, however, was impressed by the Judge's reasoning, for hedrummed with fingers on the desk and sat in brooding silence. Solikewise sat Vorse, who had heard Weir's utterance and beheld hisface. 

"He knows something, " he repeated, in a convinced tone. "Or he's adamned good bluffer. "

"I passed him here at the door this afternoon, " the banker remarked. "I turned to look at him, guessing who he was, and he had stopped andwas looking at me. Cool about it too. We'll have to watch him. "

"Perhaps if we just tip him off to keep his mouth shut tight, thatwill be enough, " Burkhardt suggested. "If he knows the four of us areready----"

Vorse sniffed. 

"You think he can be bluffed?" he said. "You haven't seen him yet; gotake a look. We'll not throw any scare into him. If he were that kind, he wouldn't have told us who he is. He wanted us to know he's afterus, that's my opinion. He wants to shake our nerve--and he shook theJudge's all right that day at my bar. "

"He did, " Gordon admitted. "The thing was so infernally unexpected. Almost like Joe Weir himself appearing. I didn't sleep a wink thatnight, what with my heart being bad and what with seeing him. "

"Suppose he _has_ proofs?" Vorse asked after a pause, while hisnarrowed eyes moved from one to another of his companions. 

A considerable silence followed. The question jerked into full lightthe issue that had all the while been lurking in the recesses of theirminds--an issue full of ghastly possibilities. Judge Gordon's fingerstrembled as he wiped with handkerchief the cold sweat on his brow. 

"We're all in it, " Vorse added. 

Burkhardt brought his fist down on the desk with a sudden crash. 

"If he has proofs, then it's him or us, " he exclaimed, while theblood suffused his face. "Him or us--and that means him! I'll never gobehind bars!"

"Sure not. None of us, " Vorse said. 

"It will mean----" Judge Gordon began in an agitated voice, but didnot finish. 

Sorenson gave a nod of his head. His bear-trap mouth was compressed ina determined evil line. 

"Exactly. He'll never use his proofs. We're in too far to halt now ifmatters come to the point of his trying to use them. He has a grip onus in one way; he knows we can't declare his father, Joe Weir, did thekilling; that would make us--what do you call it, Judge?"

"Accomplices after the fact. Besides, it would then come out that wehad taken over and shared among us his stuff, fifty thousand apiece. It's a deplorable situation we're in, gentlemen, deplorable. If wewere but able to start the story Joe Weir believed and fled becauseof, it would cut the ground out from under this man's feet at once. "

"It's him we'll cut, not the ground under him, " Burkhardt growled, thrusting his hairy chin forward towards the lawyer. "And cut hisdamned throat. "

"I hate to think of our being forced to--to homicide. Even justifiablehomicide. "

"Homicide nothing! It's just killing a rattlesnake waiting in thebrush to strike. That's the way we used to do in the old days, and ifhe's going to bring them back that's what we'll do again. "

Sorenson smiled grimly. 

"We'll wait till we're sure he has the proofs, then----"

"Then we'll act quick and sure, " Vorse shot out. 

"And quietly, " the cattleman added. "We'll take no more chances thistime. It will be arranged carefully beforehand; all four of us will bein it, of course, --equal responsibility; and there'll be nowitnesses. "

Judge Gordon's face wore a pallid, sickish look. 

"I hope to God there's some other way out of it, " he muttered. 

"So do all of us, " Burkhardt snarled. "But if there isn't, it meansguns. For you, too, along with the rest of us. "

Sorenson leaned forward and gazed from under his heavy brows, compelling Gordon to meet his fixed look. 

"You were keen enough at the time for your share of Joe Weir's stuff, "he said. "So you'll play the hand out to the end now, the bad cards aswell as the good. You're no better than the rest of us, and it was youwho hatched the scheme for cleaning him up and who put over thestory. "

"I know, I know. But--but this would be too much like cold-bloodedmurder. "

"Murder!" Sorenson grated. "Did you look straight into this fellowWeir's eyes? Didn't you see something there that resembled murder?He'd like only the chance to kill us one by one with his own hands: Isaw that much. Just as Burkhardt said, it's him or us. After you toldme about him, I had only to take one look. If he has the goods onus--well, he'll have to die. Make up your mind to that. We're back tothe time of thirty years ago and fighting for our lives. We were notonly all in on the Weir job, but the Dent killing--all of us. Rememberthat. If the facts become known, we'll be run into some other countyand court and hanged. And every enemy we've made in these years pastwill put up his head and clamor for our blood. Let that sink into yourmind. "

The effect of this low fierce utterance was to hammer the truth home. The Judge was ashen. Vorse's face appeared like an evil mask. Burkhardt glowered savagely. 

At that instant there sounded the faint report of a shot in thestreet. Then as the group sat unmoving, rigid, keyed to the highestpitch of expectancy, there followed quickly two more shots. Afterwards, silence. 

"A gun-play!" issued from Vorse's lips, softly. 

They all sprang up to hasten to the door. 

CHAPTER V

A SHOT IN THE DARK

Steele Weir driving his car down the street in the dusk had caughtsight of Felipe Martinez standing near the cattle company's office. Hestopped close by, beckoned. Martinez would do as well as another. 

"You're a notary, I suppose?" he questioned. 

"Yes, Mr. Weir. Most of us lawyers here are, " he replied politely, when he had advanced. 

"I've some papers I want acknowledged to-night. Must get them into themail going down to Bowenville in the morning. "

"Only too pleased to facilitate your business, Mr. Weir. My office isdown a few doors. "

"Jump in. "

"It's but a few steps. "

"Then I'll get out here. " And the engineer stopped the engine anddescended to the ground. 

Along the street open doorways and windows were already beginning tomake yellow panels of lamplight in the thin gloom. The air was stillwarm, balmy, scented by the lingering aroma of the greasewood smoke ofsupper fires in Mexican ovens. Stars were jeweling the sky. Fewpersons moved in the twilight. 

One of these was a man who, standing at the door of a native saloonacross the street and a little farther up, had come diagonally overtowards the bank on seeing the engineer halt his car. He walked with aslouching haste seldom exhibited by a Mexican and gained the spot asWeir stepped out. There he slackened his pace while he scanned theAmerican with an intense, slow gaze that the engineer, chancing toraise his eyes, squarely met. 

The Mexicans always looked at him and fell silent when he passed sincehe had shown who was master at the dam. In the eyes of some was merelystupid curiosity, in some a shrinking, and in many a half-veiledhostility. That did not trouble Weir. In Mexico he had dealt withrecalcitrant workmen of more lawless nature than these. He usuallyignored them altogether now as they no longer were in his employ. Butthis man seized his attention. 

It was not yet too dark to mark his face as he lounged past, slowlyturning his head about as he progressed until his chin was on hisshoulder, staring back. His look the while remained riveted on Weir--asteady, contemplative, evil regard. In Chihuahua the engineer had onceseen a notorious local "killer" who had that same gaze. 

Martinez had also glanced at the fellow. 

"Who is that man? One of the discharged workmen?" Weir asked him, whenmoving forward they in turn had passed the Mexican. 

"No, I imagine not. At any rate, he doesn't belong in San Mateo oranywhere hereabouts. I know everybody for fifty miles, for I've beenactive in social and political affairs. He's unknown to me. Astranger. " Then a little farther along: "Here is my office, Mr. Weir. I'll have a light in an instant. Ah, now. Be so good as to have achair and we'll expedite your business. "

As Martinez filled out the acknowledgment blanks on the papers, hiseyes furtively skipped over the vital portions of the documents. Thelatter were connected with company business. He had hoped they wouldbe personal so that he might learn something more of this manager'saffairs, possibly more of his secret antagonism for Sorenson and hisfriends. Any intrigue appealed to the thin, slippery lawyer's soul, but most of all some one's else intrigue into which he mightprofitably put a finger. However, from these papers he was to learnnothing. 

He had considered all possibilities of the affair, all possiblesolutions of what long ago might have occurred between Joseph Weir, undoubtedly the father of the man sitting across the table from him, and the four men now conferring in Sorenson's office. This was nopetty squabble, he divined. There was something going on under thesurface that was big--big! And very dangerous too, for the spirit ofthat moment in Vorse's bar was not to be mistaken; it had been tense, electric. Utmost caution on Martinez's part would therefore benecessary. 

As between the two parties, his sympathies at present inclined towardsWeir. The refusal on the latter's part to reëmploy the Mexican workmenon their own terms was purely a matter of policy, and the lawyer'sfirst gusty anger had long been forgotten. But not so Sorenson'ssneering words of that afternoon. They struck to the heart of hisvanity, breeding an animosity that would last. Had not the bankerstated that the lawyer should hold no political office whatever? Afterall his services? Had he not definitely shown that Martinez mightnever expect anything there? Well, the lawyer wasn't one tamely toyield his rights; he did not propose always to remain a scrimping, pettifogging attorney, existing on crumbs. 

When with a flourish he had appended his name to the acknowledgmentsand affixed his seal, he sat back thoughtfully studying the engineer, who was carefully examining the paragraphs for errors. He knew hisbusiness, did Martinez; the man would find no mistakes. Then thelawyer's eyes suddenly glistened. He arose and closed the door as Weirthrust the documents into a stout linen envelope, addressed andstamped. 

"I'll be pleased to see your letter goes in the mail in the morning, "he said, returning to his place. "The stage leaves at eight-thirty. "

"Post-office is closed now, I suppose. Very well. It will be anaccommodation, " the engineer responded. 

Martinez leaned forward. 

"If you can spare the time, I should like to have a little talk withyou, " said he. "Pardon me if I appear presumptuous, but as you'reaware, Mr. Weir, I overheard your words to Judge Gordon in Vorse'ssaloon. I inferred--check me at any instant if you consider this noneof my business!--that there exists some unpleasant feeling between youtwo gentlemen and possibly others. Judge Gordon has always handled thecompany's business in his private capacity of counselor. As you know, he's a silent partner in many enterprises with Sorenson, Vorse and aman named Burkhardt. They run this town and county. You should alsoknow that they're secretly opposed to your irrigation project, whatever they profess. They've misled the people into believing itwill work an injury to this district, whereas it will of course bebeneficial. Unfortunately too they lead the people by the noses--butnot me! I refuse to be subservient. "

He paused to note the effect of his words. 

"Now, Mr. Weir, these are facts you can confirm if you're not alreadyinformed of them, which I imagine you are. Because I'm independent inmy opinions and actions, I stand in disfavor with these gentlemen, which may or may not be an objection in your view to what I have inmind. And this is it. I should be pleased to execute any legal workthat you care to give me; it might be of advantage to your company attimes to have an attorney other than Judge Gordon, who is alignedagainst you and will serve his own interests first. He's in a positionto cause you embarrassment. "

"Our eastern attorneys draw all documents. "

"Of course. But I was thinking of delays more than anything else. There are a thousand ways a lawyer can push or halt matters at will, and your project will never be free of legal red tape untilcompleted--if then! I'm not unselfish in this, I admit; the businesswould be valuable to me. But aside from that, I'll give you thisadvice anyway:--secure another lawyer in any case, one withoutantagonistic personal interests, if you can find another in San Mateobesides me. See, I'm frank! That may sound egotistical, but really I'mthe only free man of the lawyers here. And I've paid for my liberty!"He made a sweeping gesture to indicate his shabby office. "If I hadtaken orders, I could have been county attorney and probably a judge. But I respect myself too much to take orders from Sorenson and hisbunch. I choose this sort of thing in preference. "

Steele Weir maintained a non-committal silence. Again the thindark-skinned lawyer swiftly weighed the man before him, considered thedangers in which he might become involved if he went a step farther, recoiled, then grew bolder. Sorenson had marked him for poverty andnonentity; under the favoring shelter of the irrigation company'spower he might arise from both. For at moments the acute Mexicansensed the inevitable victory of the new forces at work; this, one ofthe last strong-holds of old time cattle and sheep interests, wouldbreak down and yield to the plow and fence. 

"Now, there's something more, though I hesitate to mention it, " hewent on, doubtfully. "While Sorenson and his crowd run things, it'snot because the people--and that means us Mexicans chiefly--love them. We're indolent by nature; we idle rather than work; borrow when we canrather than earn--I speak of our race, but we're learning that workproves best in the long run. These men have squeezed my people, androbbed them, and kept them down. Nothing more would I wish than to seethese leaders deposed. It's no secret they've built their wealth byquestionable methods, but who can prove it?

"Do you know what I suspect? You have something on Sorenson's crowd. That's why they're uneasy; that's why the four are sitting over in thecattle company's office this minute with their heads together, meetingthe minute Sorenson arrives home. I saw them go in. Leaving aside thequestion of your own affairs, I'd like to have matters changed here inthis county so that every man has a fair chance. Anything that willbring that about enlists my interest. When I heard your statement toGordon and saw his face, I knew there was something in the past thatalarmed him. I recalled a name I had once run across when abstractinga title----"

It was not this ingenious twisting of the truth that caused the lawyerto become filled with sudden dismay and stop, but the savage hardeningof the engineer's face. 

"Go on, " Weir commanded. 

"Well, the name was Joseph Weir. I looked it up again to be sure, andfound the property had been deeded to Sorenson and the others, whostill have it. I wondered----"

"What did you wonder?" came with a devouring look. 

"If--if Joseph Weir received consideration according to law. "Martinez' courage flowed back again. "I'll make no attempt to justifymy curiosity, sir, except to say that more than one man in thesouthwest was done out of property in early days; and the practice hasnot ceased, for that matter. But in these days the means is usuallylegal and Mexicans the victims. Sharp mortgage dealings and so forth. Now, if I've said too much, I'll instantly forget all about it. On theother hand----"

"Well?"

"I might be of assistance. If you wish to look into that oldtransaction, that is. If there was anything crooked about the deal, and I set it down that there was with Sorenson mixed in, and withVorse and Burkhardt the witnesses named in the deed and Judge Gordontaking the acknowledgment of Joseph Weir's signature, as the recordshows, then there should be some weak spot that could be attacked. There may be men yet alive conversant with the circumstances; theymay know whether duress or fraud was exercised, supposing the salewas not honest. Some of the old Mexicans may remember Weir, and couldgive a clue; they have good memories for things of those days. Ofcourse, if the transaction was all right, then I'm all wrong in mysuppositions. "

Weir arose. 

"I can give you some of the company business, perhaps considerable ofit, " he said. 

Martinez sprang up, an expression of gratitude upon his face. He hadnot realized all that he had hoped for, but he was neverthelessdelighted. 

"I'm really sincere when I give you a thousand thanks, Mr. Weir, " saidhe, spreading his arms wide. "I'll not make promises as to theefficiency of my services; let results speak for themselves. "

"I always do, " was the comment. "But I'll tell you what I demand inany one associated with me--absolute trustworthiness first of all, then loyalty and ability. "

"Which leaves nothing, " Martinez smiled. 

He preceded the engineer and swung the door open, stepping aside. Tothe visitor's question regarding fees for the acknowledgments taken, he waved a declining hand. 

"Nothing, nothing. Delighted to render you the service. "

"Very well. "

"I'll attend to the letter, " the lawyer again assured him. 

"Come out to the dam in a day or two. "

"To-morrow, if you wish. "

"To-morrow afternoon will do. "

Steele Weir's frame filled the lighted doorway as he stepped forthfrom the office. He paused to accustom his eyes to the darkness, forduring his colloquy with the attorney full night had descended. On thesame side of the street with himself and perhaps twelve or fifteenpaces off he saw a girl's figure appear and disappear before a windowas she moved along. 

Then suddenly a tongue of red flame darted at him across the street, where lay a space of unlighted gloom. His hat was whipped off hishead. The sharp report of a shot cracked between the adobe walls. Withan unbelievably rapid movement Steele Weir drew the revolver in hispocket, and which he had carried ever since his encounter with youngSorenson in the restaurant, fired twice where he had seen the flameand leaped aside into the darkness beside the doorway. There hewaited, half crouching, for a further attack. 

But none came. Men began to run towards the place. Shouts and callsechoed along the street. In two minutes a crowd was surging beforeMartinez' door wildly asking questions. 

Weir pocketed his pistol and walked back into the office, where hefound his bullet-pierced hat lying on the floor and the attorneystanding frozen with astonishment. A stream of people followed at hisheels. 

"Who did this shooting? Do you know, Felipe?" a tall raw-boned whiteman who led them asked hastily. 

"This gentleman, Mr. Weir, was fired on, sheriff, " Martinez burst outvolubly. 

"And I fired in return, " the engineer stated. "The fellow was acrossthe street in the dark. You might look over there. "

Turning and pushing his way through the packed door, the sheriffdisappeared. The crowd melted away again. Presently as Weir glancedabout he saw a new figure at the doorway, staring at him. He wenttowards the girl there outlined in the lamplight. 

"Was that you I saw moving along just before the exchange ofcompliments, Miss Hosmer?" he asked. 

"Yes. I was coming towards you on my way home. "

"It probably gave you a fright. "

"It did, indeed. I heard the shot and saw your hat knocked off. I justwent cold in my tracks. At first I believed you killed. "

"I'm very much alive, as you see. "

"But it was dreadful! Who would fire at you from the dark? Some onetried to murder you!"

"It looks like it. Still here I am, ready to move your car out of thewater next time it's stalled. "

She entered the room slowly. 

"Who in San Mateo would do such a terrible thing, Mr. Martinez?" sheaddressed the lawyer. The pallor was still on her face and her eyeswere large with horror. 

"Ah, Miss Janet, if we but knew! We'd lay hands on him and send him tothe penitentiary. "

Real emotion struggled in the lawyer's words. With the return of hissenses he had just begun to realize by what a narrow margin theassassin's bullet had missed destroying his future client andprospects. 

A growing murmur across the street attracted their attention. Then asthey continued to chat of the event, the sheriff reappeared, directinghalf a dozen men who laid a burden in the light of Martinez' doorway. 

"You got him, " he said to Weir, with ominous significance. "One bulletthrough the head, one through his stomach. He's good and dead. "

Weir walked forward and inspected that outstretched figure. It was theman whose gaze had been so malevolently fastened upon him as he joinedMartinez before Sorenson's office. 

"Who is he?" he asked. 

"A strange Mexican. Some of these men say he showed up this morningand hung around the saloons, not talking much. Haven't you ever seenhim, before?" The question expressed a perplexed curiosity. 

"Once. When Martinez and I were coming here to transact some business. He was taking a good look at me then when he passed us. That wasn'tover half an hour ago. Never saw him before that. "

"He shot at you first?"

"I had just stepped out of this room. Could I see him hiding overthere? Or know he was there?" Then he added, "I was taken by surprise, but I marked the flash of his gun. "

The sheriff, Madden by name, looked at Weir appreciatively. 

"You can use a gun yourself, " said he, briefly. 

Martinez now repeated the fact of the dead man having fired the firstshot, which Janet Hosmer confirmed. 

"Well, is there anything more?" Weir questioned. 

"Not to-night, I reckon, " Madden replied. "We'll have an inquest inthe morning; show up then. Where will I find your father, MissHosmer?"

"At home. " Then to the engineer she explained, "Father acts in theabsence of the coroner, who's away just now. "

"I'm very sorry this happened on your account, " said he. 

"And I'm very glad you were not hurt. "

Outside the corpse was being borne away, followed by the curious, avidcrowd of Mexicans. 

"You're still shaken by the thing, " said Steele Weir. "It's enough toupset any girl. Let me walk home with you, or you may be starting atshadows all the way. "

CHAPTER VI

JANET HOSMER

A silvery brightness shone in the east as they came out of Martinez'office, that increased as they went forward until all at once the moonarose into view, lighting the street, disclosing the flanking lines ofsquat buildings, revealing the tall cottonwoods about the court houseand elsewhere thrust up in the town. 

Janet Hosmer breathed a sigh of relief. The darkness had seemed potentfor further evil, but now it was as if the latter retreated with theshadows. She felt a desire to go on alone, to separate herself fromthis companion with whom chance had brought her in contact at adramatic moment, to get away from the whole terrible affair. Involuntarily her spirit shrank at the nearness of the man, for thoughhe had struck back in self-defense he nevertheless had killed anotherand the act somehow appeared to set him apart from ordinary men, isolate him, give him the character of an Ishmael. 

Yet her feelings were confused. Against this inclination was an avidcuriosity, or rather a wonderment, as to what must now be occurring inhis soul. Her eyes sought his face as he walked beside her. Neitherhad spoken; and his countenance wore the same stern contained aspect, calm, forceful, as the first time she had ever observed it. But whatwas below the surface? What were the thoughts now revolving in hismind and the emotions flowing in his breast? She could read nothingon that composed mask of a face. Was it possible for a man to slayanother human being, even justifiably, without suffering a hurricaneof the spirit?

But perhaps he had killed men before. The fact of his carrying aweapon and his swift deadly fire pointed ominously to previousexperience. 

"Did you ever shoot any one before?" popped from between her lips. Then she stopped, clapping her hand over her mouth in consternationand staring at him palely. 

Weir had halted too. He regarded her in silence for a little, a slightsmile resting on his face. They stood before the cattle company'soffice and his look went past her once to embrace the small darkenedbuilding. 

"I'm not a murderer by trade, if that's what you mean, " said he, atlast. "But I've killed a man or two before, yes. " Then at the whiteanguish of her lips and cheeks, his tone softened a degree as he wenton. "Unfortunately since becoming of age I've had to fight. If notmen, then the earth. If not the earth, then men. Sometimes bothtogether. You saw what happened to-night; that fellow was unknown tome. He was not a workman who had been discharged and felt he had agrievance----"

"Oh, no!" she interjected. "The Mexicans here wouldn't attempt tomurder you, however angry they might feel. "

"I'm not so sure of that, " he answered. 

"But I am; I know them, I've lived among them!"

"Well, let that go. The man tried to kill me, at any rate. However, hewas merely a tool, hired for the business by some one else. OrdinarilyI don't discuss my affairs with any one, but since you've raised thematter I'll just say that I've enemies in San Mateo who are anxiousto dispose of me. "

"Such enemies here!"

"Yes. Who would be delighted to see me lie where that dead man liesand who are apparently determined to effect it. " He touched her sleevewarningly. "But you will speak of this to no one. "

"No, oh, no! Not a word!"

Steele gazed at her steadily. He already repented disclosing even solittle of his private concerns, an impulse altogether at variance withhis close-mouthed habit, but he had, for some vague reason, felt itnecessary to explain his course, to justify himself to thisclear-eyed, fine-spirited girl. He could not let her rest under amisapprehension that he was a brute who reveled in blood-spilling. Andas he regarded her a conviction that she was absolutely to be trustedsettled firmly into his mind. 

She would be staunch; oxen and ropes could not drag information fromher once she had determined not to speak. Yes, she would be loyal toher given word--and to her friends. Weir's eyes glanced at the diamondon her finger. It would be a girl like her with whom he would havechosen to mate if fate had not directed his feet on a road whichseemingly left him no choice but incessant and solitary struggle. 

"I hate it all; I have nothing but crusts and nettles!" he exclaimed, with sudden fierce passion. And with a quick movement of his hand hebeckoned her on. 

Submissively she accompanied him, her bosom rising and falling with aquickened rhythm. Too much had happened, one thing piling on another, for her to sort her thoughts or to attempt to understand things yet;and in her tossing state of mind she went at his gesture as onefollows a guide, or as a simple matter of course. 

In her mental turmoil that last passionate utterance of the man playedlike a lambent flame. Tense, violent, spontaneous, it had come fromthe heart. What harsh lot he had lived and sufferings borne she couldnot even guess; but no man spoke with such unconscious bitterness whohad not undergone pain and travail of spirit. His head was now turneda little towards her as they walked: she perceived him staring at themoonlit street, his lips compressed, his brows knit. 

Then he glanced about at her, his face clearing. "Pay no attention towhat I said, " he remarked. "I shouldn't have let loose that way. Hello, what's on now?"

Before them, and in front of the court house, was a packed crowd, people who had run forth at the sound of shots, augmented by those whohad since arrived upon the scene. It was motionless. 

"Stand back, stand back; don't trample the body!" came SheriffMadden's voice in an angry order. 

The crowd surged a little apart in the center. 

"How do you know this dead man fired the first shot?" asked some one, vehemently. 

The voices went lower so that Steele Weir and Janet Hosmer, who hadpaused at the edge of the throng, were able only to catch the tones. 

"Who was that who questioned the sheriff?" Weir whispered. 

"Mr. Burkhardt, I think. Sounded like him. "

So intent were the Mexicans upon the occurrence in their midst thatthose close by remained with backs towards the pair, failing tonotice their presence. All craned eagerly to miss nothing of thecontroversy. 

"How do you know this engineer didn't start it?" came Burkhardt'svoice again. 

"Don't be a fool; there were witnesses. "

"I'd like to talk to those witnesses. I doubt if they really sawanything. It looks to me as if there's another side to thisshooting. "

"Well, of course you know--you, sitting there in Sorenson's office, asyou say, " was the ironical retort. 

At this juncture another voice interposed. 

"Madden, we want no mistake here. This Weir doesn't bear a very goodreputation for peacefulness, from what I've learned. If this Mexicanhas simply been shot down----"

"Who is that?" Steele demanded of the girl. "I can't see him. "

"That"--Janet Hosmer's speech faltered--"that is Mr. Sorenson. Oh, they misunderstand! Let me push in there and tell them how ithappened. "

The engineer's hand closed about her arm. 

"You'll do nothing of the kind, " he commanded, low. 

"But----"

"No. Remain quiet and listen. "

Her eyes flew up to his at this extraordinary course, so injurious tohis own interests. She was anxious to press to the front and declarehis innocence in the affair of everything but defending his life froman assassin. She could not understand why he also was not eager tospring forward, why he restrained her. Then she saw the implacablehatred on his face. 

A thrill quivered through her body. The feeling she had at thatinstant was one of being on the point of seeing behind the curtain ofa mystery, of making a discovery so sinister that she would gasp. Hervery finger almost rested upon it. Why were Mr. Sorenson and Mr. Burkhardt talking as they were? Trying by innuendo to make it seem hercompanion might have been guilty of a crime? Could it be---- Her bloodslowly congealed to ice at the horror of where her reasoning led. 

_Could it be they were the enemies he meant!_

Such a thing was too dreadful, too absurd. They, the respected leadersof the community, could never put a pistol in the dead wretch's handto slay this man beside her. Mr. Sorenson! The father of Ed, whom----She stared blankly at her left hand. 

Yet the banker's heavy, smooth words continued to assail her earssteadily. She grasped their import once more. 

"--for the story is too thin. No man could hit another across thestreet in the dark as this engineer claims, not only once but twiceput a bullet where it would kill. Probably the dead man had somethingon this Weir, and the latter knew it. It's not impossible he found thefellow in his path, drew and murdered him at once, quickly put a holein his own hat and then carried the body across the way, running backto Martinez' office. The thing could have been done in a minute. Martinez' himself wouldn't have seen how it was worked. I'm not sayingthat was exactly how it was done, or that this Weir did actuallymurder him, but--investigate, Madden, investigate. "

Steele Weir felt an angry tug at his sleeve. He looked around andbeheld Janet Hosmer's eyes distended with incredulity. 

"Come away, come away, " she whispered. "I should never have believedit if I hadn't heard with my own ears!"

Keeping close to the line of buildings, they skirted the crowd, stillunnoticed, and left it behind. She walked with quick nervous steps;her hand yet unconsciously grasped his coat sleeve. All the way to herhome, which they found dark since a messenger had called the doctor tothe court house and the Mexican girl servant also was gone, she saidnothing. 

"Come up on the veranda; I want to talk, " she announced when he openedthe gate. 

"Wouldn't it be best if you took your mind off the whole thing, by abook or something else? I'll go. "

"As if I could take my mind off! There are matters in this I mustknow. You may wonder when I say it, Mr. Weir, but this happeningconcerns me more than you dream. " Her dark glowing gaze brooded on himwith a sort of intense determination. Then she went on, "It--itinvolves my whole future as well as your own, though in a differentway. So come inside, if you please. "

Weir in silence accompanied her upon the dark, broad, vine-clad porch. In the half-gloom he found chairs for them. 

"I'm going to the point at once, " she declared. "Why did Mr. Sorensontalk in such a fashion?" And he could feel her bending forward as ifhanging on his answer. 

"That's the one thing I can't discuss, " said he. 

"I must know, I must know. "

"And unhappily I must refuse. "

"Oh, Mr. Weir, if you could but understand what this involves for me, you wouldn't hesitate! I was shocked at the shooting, but I saw itsnecessity on your part; you're not one to run from a foe, a cowardlyfoe least of all. But what I heard there in the street horrified me. Icouldn't believe it; I can scarcely credit my ears yet. Mr. Sorensonand Mr. Burkhardt were not near when you were attacked; they are notacquainted with the circumstances or facts as you, Mr. Martinez and Iknow them; they apparently didn't appear until the crowd started awaywith the dead man. Yet at once----"

"Ay, at once, " Steele Weir let slip. 

"At once, immediately, when they had barely heard the story, theybegan to tear it to pieces and suggest another, making you out avillain. You're only an acquaintance, sir, scarcely more than astranger, but as I listened it outraged all my sense of justice. Mr. Sorenson, of all men! My brain was in a whirl. But it's steady now. "

The engineer failed to open his lips at her pause. 

"I'm no fool, Mr. Weir; I think of other things besides dressing myhair and using a powder puff. I can sometimes put two and twotogether--when I see the 'twos' clearly. Now, tell me why Mr. Sorensontalked as he did, for I must have my eyes clear. "

"Ask me anything but that, Miss Hosmer. "

He sat distressed and uneasy at her prolonged muteness. Suddenly shequestioned quietly:

"Are those two men the enemies you spoke of?"

"It will save me embarrassment if I go, " he remarked, starting torise. "I don't want you to hate me, you know, and still I can't sayanything. "

Her grasp pulled him imperatively back. 

"You shall not go yet. "

"Then I can only continue to decline making answers. I frankly saythat I regret having uttered a word of explanation. "

"I don't regret it. And I intend to keep questioning you, however rudeyou may think me. I must know, " she cried impetuously, "and I shallknow! Mr. Sorenson is one of the men you referred to, or he wouldnever seek to direct suspicion at you. I saw the look on your face, sir, as he spoke. But why should you two be enemies! You come here astranger to San Mateo, or have you been here before sometime? Did youknow him before?"

Again he could feel her eyes straining at him. 

"It seems mad to think of him and Mr. Burkhardt, and perhaps others, hiring some one to shoot you down from a dark doorway. It is utterlymad--crazy. But why should they want to convict you, in the crowd'sopinion at least, of murdering the man. It would not be just troubleabout the dam--oh, no. But I can't see through it at all. Why won'tyou tell me? You can trust me--and I want to help you as well as helpmyself. You certainly don't hold against me my silly nonsense andunkind words of the day you brought me home from the ford. "

"I didn't think them silly; they delighted me, " he responded. "Ihadn't had anything happen to me so refreshing in years. "

"We must be friends. Something tells me they're going to make youtrouble over this shooting, and you'll need friends. "

"Something tells me you're right in both respects, " he laughed. 

"And friends must stick together. "

"That's what they should do. "

In the dusk of the vine-clad, flower-scented place where they sat heexperienced the subtle power of this intimacy. Not a soul stirred inthe empty moonlit street before the house. No sounds disturbed thewarm peace of the night. In this secluded spot only there ran themurmur of their voices. 

"I could never stand by and see any man unjustly accused and defamedif I knew he was innocent, without lifting up my word in defense, " sheproceeded. "But let me ask if on your side you're treating mefairly?"

Weir could have groaned. 

"You have a noble spirit, Miss Hosmer. You're more courageous and kindthan any girl I've ever known. Would you have me reveal what my bestjudgment tells me should remain untold?"

"But what of me? Would you keep it to yourself if my future happinessmight turn on it?"

The appeal in her words shook Steele's heart. 

"How does this business affect your happiness? How?" he asked, inperplexity. 

Now it was her turn to hesitate. Why should she pause, indeed, beforetelling to this man what every one else knew. Yet hesitate she did, from a feeling she could but partly analyze. Of her fiancé she hadalready had disturbing secret doubts that had increased of late:doubts of his habits, his character and the genuineness of his love;so that it was with a little eddy of dissatisfaction and shame thatshe admitted the relationship. More she questioned her own love as anactual thing. In a startling way, too, this silent, forceful man, sodeadly in earnest and so earnestly deadly, so terrible in someaspects, seemed at the instant to dwarf the other in stature and poweras if the latter were a plump manikin. 

Perhaps at the last minute she had a shiver of dread at what mightissue from the engineer's lips in the way of facts if he took her ather word and told her what she had demanded to know. Did she want toknow? Suppose she let the affair rest where it was and went forwardto the future in the comfortable assurance of ignorance. 

In that case, it might be wooing later revelations that then could notbe escaped, revelations like consuming lightnings. She would settle itnow once for all. 

"It does concern my future and my happiness vitally, " she declared, earnestly. "For this reason----"

"Yes?"

"I'm engaged to marry Ed Sorenson, son of Mr. Sorenson. "

Weir leaped to his feet. 

"Good God! That fellow!" he exclaimed, astounded. 

Without another word he sprang down the steps and strode away. JanetHosmer, grasping the arms of her chair and staring after him, saw himonce bring down his clenched fist on nothing. Then he passed rapidlyalong the street and out of sight. 

CHAPTER VII

IN THE COIL

The Spirit of Irony couldn't have devised a more intolerablesituation. So thought Steele Weir as he strode away from thedwelling, still laboring under the emotions provoked by the girl'sdisclosure, wincing at his own biting thoughts and writhing at hisown helplessness. It needed only this revelation to cap the wholediabolical evening. 

He could not have remained with her now if his life had depended onit. She, engaged to that scoundrel Ed Sorenson! How could she havebeen so blind to the lustful beast's nature? She must love him, ofcourse. He must have been careful to exhibit to her only suchqualities as would gain her affection and respect, or rather hollowshams of qualities he never had possessed. Propinquity, lack of rivalsin this little town, no doubt were largely responsible for her feelingfor the man. But it was like standing by and seeing her fair youngbody, her fresh pure life, her high soul, flung to a devouring swine. 

And by the rules of the game he couldn't open his lips to utter a wordof warning! That was the worst of it, that was the worst of it. No, not by the rules of the game; not, for that matter, by the rules oflife; for the latter run that only can the person concerned see withhis or her own eyes what a loved one's character is, and must make andabide by her own judgments. 

Steele Weir all at once stopped in his tracks. He stared straightbefore him for a time seeing Janet Hosmer's face as it appeared whenshe anxiously gazed at him from Martinez' door, coming out of thenight like a pallid moon-flower. At that instant she had feared he hadbeen wounded; her heart was fluttering with anguish. The tension ofhis body relaxed and his hands slowly unclosed and involuntarily hiseyes went up to the moon sailing serenely in the sky above thetreetops and the flat-roofed adobe houses. What vaster blessing couldlife bestow than to have such a look come seeking one beloved!

He went on thoughtfully. 

"She shall not marry him, " he said to himself, with a quick resolve. 

What were the rules of any game when an innocent girl's happiness wasat stake? Did he care for conventions, or even the contempt sheherself might feel for him for apparently belittling her lover? Hecould stand that, so that her eyes were opened and the fellow's yellowheart made plain. At the proper time he should act, view his part asshe might. A snap of his fingers for being misunderstood! He would gohis own way afterwards. 

The thing had its curious features, too. No mistake, the shock ofhearing Sorenson senior talking to the sheriff and the crowd, workingup sentiment, had stirred her indignation and wonder and uneasinessand alarm. She was no fool, as she had said. She had a clear, practical mind, give it something to work on. Her intuition hadimmediately grasped the fact that there might be cellars under theSorenson household of which she knew nothing and which should bepromptly entered with a strong light. Whether the momentary desirewould last, that was the question. To-morrow, or the first time shefound herself in Ed Sorenson's reassuring presence, she might considerthat her brain had been upset by events of this night, jiggled awry ina sort of moonlight madness, and her apprehensions as to happinessunfounded shadows. 

Well, Weir would strike later. 

He turned into the main street. Evidently the body of the dead Mexicanhad been carried into the jail behind the court house, or somewhere. The throng had dispersed, though its elements were every placetalking, in pairs or in little knots of people. As he came along, these fell silent at his passing. They stared at him, motionless, expressionless, with the characteristic Mexican stolidity that is theheritage of Indian blood. By his automobile he found Martinez posted, stroking his long black mustache and regarding Sorenson's office, which was still lighted though the curtain remained drawn over thebroad plate-glass window. 

"Just wanted to give you a whispered word, " he said, in Steele Weir'sear, darting a glance towards some of the Mexicans who, drawn byinsatiable curiosity, were lounging nearer. 

"Speak, " said the engineer. 

"I came out of the office after you did and heard the talk. " He made acovert movement of forefinger towards the nearby building. "The fourof them are in there again. I saw you listening to Sorenson here inthe street; and would you care to have me express my opinion as towhat the signs indicate, Mr. Weir?"

"Go ahead. "

"In the light of what I suggested during our talk in my office, thesilly twaddle of Burkhardt and Sorenson is understandable. I lookright through their scheme. They always frame up something againstanybody they want to dispose of; they do it in business mattersregularly, and very skillfully. They immediately perceived a chance, sir, in this unfortunate encounter of yours and laid hands on it;their talk was the first delicate maneuver to 'frame' you. "

"Sure, " was the unperturbed answer. 

Martinez laid a finger on Weir's lapel. 

"Frankly, feeling hasn't been good towards you because of the workcontroversy at the dam, " he went on, with another swift glance about. "They will use that. On the other hand, you have Miss Janet and me aswitnesses in support of your story. Unfortunately Miss Janet is, asyou may not be aware, engaged to----"

Martinez paused dramatically. 

"Well?"

"To Ed Sorenson, " the lawyer half-hissed. "Nothing could be worse. "

"Why?"

"Why? Look at the position she'll be in. Consider the pressure theycan put on her through that fact--and they'll not hesitate to do so, in one way or another. Innocent as a dove, she is, Mr. Weir. " Hethrust his head forward, showing his lips drawn apart and shiningteeth tight set. "And she's never heard a rumor of his hushed-upaffairs with poor, ignorant, Mexican girls who knew no better. "

"We'll simply have to trust to her courage to tell the truth on theproper occasion. "

"Ah, but they'll trick her some way. "

"And you?"

Martinez straightened, smiled, twirled his mustache. 

"I? They aren't quite foxy enough for that, Mr. Weir, " he boasted, with glistening eyes. 

The engineer was almost ready to believe that, but cunning was not theonly weapon in his enemies' arsenal. How would this lean lawyer standup under intimidation, bribes, threats?

"I trust so, Martinez, " said he. "Do you think they will try to get mesometime by an out-and-out gun-play?"

"No, no, no. "

"Do you think they could if they tried?" Weir inquired, grimly. 

The attorney paused with finger and thumb on the point of hismustache, lifted his eyebrows and smiled broadly. 

"They'll consider twice before they attempt it, after your expertexhibition this evening, " said he. "It was amazing, your speed, youraccuracy. "

Steele tapped the man on the breast, who experienced a distinct tremorat that significant touch and at the veiled menace in the dammanager's eyes. 

"There's always one bullet in my gun for the man who betrays me, Martinez. "

The lawyer licked his lips. On general principles he dislikedstatements that committed one to the future. But it was necessary tosay something. 

"To be sure. I should feel the same in your circumstances, " heresponded. Then as Weir turned to his car, he continued: "The inquestto-morrow morning should be over early. I'll visit you in theafternoon as planned. "

"Don't forget that letter, " Weir called out. 

Martinez marveled. Kill a man, and still remember a letter! Thatmagnified his respect immensely. Cool, that fellow! Then a slightshiver as if a chill from those black peaks west of the town hadstruck through his flesh rippled along his spine; for he had beenover at the jail with the crowd and had viewed that dead body lyingthere on the stone floor. Not only cool, but dangerous and deadly, this engineer. He, Martinez, must be discreet; it would not do to riskgaining Weir's enmity. That cold-faced man could not be "monkeyedwith. "

Martinez gnawed his mustache and eyed the dully illuminated officewindow. He wondered if those four men inside had not at last foundtheir match, perhaps their master. Any one with half a brain could seethere was going to be a desperate struggle between the four and theone, and he was not exactly sure yet that he wanted to venture fartherinto the affair. But the very danger fascinated him with its subtleand obscure features, exactly suited to his manipulation. 

A man who had been standing apart sauntered nearer. 

"Señor, " he addressed the lawyer in Spanish. 

Martinez whirled about. 

"Ah, it's only you, Naharo. "

"He is a bad fighter, eh?" And the man, almost white because ofintermixed blood, moved a hand in the direction Weir's car had gone. 

"Perhaps not bad. Quick with a gun, however, " was the careful reply. 

"With his fists also. I saw, or if I did not see, I very nearly didso--it is the same--saw him use them in Bowenville. And on that dog ofan Ed Sorenson who would have seduced my little Dolorosa, as he didCristobal's daughter, if I had not perceived what he was at. "

The lawyer's ears were instantly pricked up. He caught the man by theshirt-sleeve. 

"Come with me, " he said. 

Once they were in his office he carefully closed and locked the door, drawing the window shades. Literally he rubbed his hands one over theother as he bade Naharo take a chair. Then the pair of them rolled andlighted cigarettes. 

"Perhaps I should say no more, Señor Martinez. "

"It will go no farther. And if the engineer and Ed Sorenson had afight, then it must have been for that reason the latter's fatherspoke as he did to-night. You heard him. "

"Yes. And I did not understand why. It was not because of whathappened at Bowenville, unquestionably not, for it had to do withanother girl----"

"Ha, a girl! And the engineer mixed in it?"

"Listen. As I say, he would not have told his father, because he keepssuch things quiet; it is four years since he last had to pay money tosettle a matter. Some think he now behaves, but it is not true. But heis more careful. So his father did not know about this. "

"Tell it all, Naharo. "

The other inhaled a puff of smoke and half-closed his eyes. Thoughnearly white, he retained the Mexican's high cheek bones, and languor, and unforgiving nature. 

"I was in Bowenville, freighting up flour to the store of Smith's. Ihad loaded by evening, to make an early start next day. I had goneinto the restaurant for supper, taking a seat far down at the end ofthe counter near the kitchen. I was tired and thinking only of myfood. As I ate, there was a crash in one of the stalls and I lookedabout. There was a fight, of course. But it ended at once. Then Iobserved Ed Sorenson come out presently, jerking his collar and tiestraight. He was mad. He had been whipped, too. For he yet looked asif he wanted to kill the other man in there, but he went away. Soonthe other man came out and with him was a young white girl, whom Idid not know. The man was this engineer and he carried an old piece ofbaggage, not such as he would carry but as the girl might, for shelooked like a ranch girl who was poor. The girl was scared. The manwas calm as a priest. That scoundrel Ed Sorenson had been beaten. Aha, so; it was clear. The engineer had put a spoke in the fellow's wheel. Then I walked to the door and saw the two get into a car and start onthe trail this way. After that, I resumed my supper. You perceive, theman had taken the girl away from the wolf. "

Martinez' restless eyes wandered about the room as he digested thisaccount. 

"Did you see the dead man?" he inquired, casually. 

"Yes, señor. "

Their looks met, held for an instant, dropped. Each read the thoughtof the other: the motive for the attack on the engineer was clear. Butsome convictions are better not expressed. 

"I should have liked to see Señor Weir do the shooting, " Naharostated. "Dios, such shooting! Two shots, two hits. And in the dark!"

Martinez' grinned. 

"It will not please--whoever hired the dead man. He was hired for thejob, of course. "

"Unquestionably, señor, " was the reply. 

CHAPTER VIII

THE GATHERING STORM

At the inquest next morning no outward sign indicated what Weir'senemies might be at. Indeed, none of them was present. The engineermade a statement; the two witnesses, Janet Hosmer and Felipe Martinez, were briefly interrogated, and the finding was returned that theunknown Mexican had met death from two bullet wounds while attemptingto kill Steele Weir. 

One spectator there was who took a strong interest in proceedings, EdSorenson. When, however, Janet Hosmer was notified by her father, whowas in charge, that she could withdraw, the young fellow hastened tolead her away, with an audible remark that it was a shame she had hadto be "dragged into this disreputable gun-man's bloody show. " MeaningSteele Weir, naturally. 

That feeling was being intensified against him was only too apparentin the hostile manner of the crowd and in the silence with which itreceived the finding. There was his former unpopularity, to beginwith; there was now added a race resentment, for the slain man, stranger though he was, was Mexican; and finally, he knew not whatdistilled poison of lies concerning his innocence in the night fray. Nothing more was needed to reveal the swelling hate which secret fearof Weir but increased than a volley of curses and abuse hurled at hishead from a native saloon doorway as he passed in his car on his wayhome. 

During the following week the engineer was too occupied with dam workto have time for other matters. He pushed the concrete constructionand inspired his men with something of his own indomitable spirit, whohad learned of the cowardly attack in San Mateo and rallied to hisstandard with a zeal and ardor for which the fact of employment alonedid not account. He had become a leader as well as their "boss. " FromMeyers down to the humblest workman the camp had for him a newadmiration, a new respect and a new loyalty, which he could not helpbut feel; he had proved that he could deliver the "goods"; and if theMexicans wanted war, the Americans here would be glad to oblige them. Nor did they wait to let San Mateo know the fact. 

"We're wid 'Cold Steel' Weir, our boss, four hundred of us, till yecan skate on hell, " a huge Irishman, one of half a dozen standing atVorse's bar on Saturday night, remarked when the saloon-man uttered asneer at the manager. "Say that agin and we'll tear your rotten boozejoint to pieces and make ye eat it! And if another stinkin' greasertries to wing him from the dark, we'll come down here and wipe yourdirty little town off the map! That goes both ways from the jack!" Hesnapped his fingers under the other's nose by way of added insult. 

A petty series of hostile acts against the company developed. Teamsters were stoned by boys, which left them raging and murderous todiscover the men who set them on. Half a carload of cement in sackswas ripped open and emptied on the earth at Bowenville. After Meyers, Weir's assistant, found his automobile tires slashed to bits on comingout of the post-office in San Mateo, it became necessary always to goin pairs, one man to remain on watch. Weir himself just avoided aserious accident one evening at dusk while a mile from the dam when heinstinctively ducked in his car as something grazed the top of hiswind-shield. A wire had been stretched across the road from atelephone pole to a tree, at just the height to strike him at thethroat. 

He halted and removed the deadly contrivance. Men on watch of hismovements could have prepared it against his return; and, indeed, hethought he detected a pair of flitting shadows behind a row of willowbushes lining a Mexican irrigation ditch, but in the dusk he could notbe sure. On running thither, he found no one. 

The camp was not of a temper, however, to allow the attacks to be allon one side. Atkinson, the superintendent, came to Weir one morningtowards the end of the week and informed him workmen were driftingdown to San Mateo nightly in hope of trouble. 

"They'll get a knife put into them, " Steele Weir replied, with a frownthat did not entirely hide his satisfaction at this evidence ofsupport. 

"Maybe; and again maybe not, " the superintendent stated, grinning. "Abunch jumped some of our boys last night and I guess when the dustsettled there were a couple of Mexicans beaten nearly to death. "

"Call the men all together this noon, " Weir ordered. 

At that hour he gave them a talk for what he called their long-earedcussedness, and laid down a little law and wound up with a number ofreasonable explanations for the same. Every man who went out huntingtrouble was a camp liability, and would be fired. He did not proposeto give the town authorities a chance to jail workmen and impair thedam work, just the thing they were waiting to do. The men should keepaway from San Mateo, or at least avoid disputes and rows. If theyspent no money there whatever it would sting the town where it wouldhurt the most, in its pocket-book; and he himself was transferring thecompany bank account to Bowenville, by way of example. If any man feltthe need of change from camp, he could have two days off at the end ofthe month to spend at Bowenville. But keep away from the Mexicans!

"And if they come up here huntin' us when we show up no more?" yelledthe same big Irishman who had paid his respects to Vorse. 

"In that case, tear their heads off, " was the reply. "But put on yourgloves first or you'll dirty your fingers. " Which bit of rough humorcaught the crowd's fancy and won a roar of laughter. 

Later as the crowd dispersed to eat Atkinson said to Meyers, "The bossknows how to handle men all right, all right; he put sugar on thepill. The gang went off grinning. They know they've got to begood--but only up to a limit. "

Meantime Felipe Martinez had not been idle. He rode up to engineeringheadquarters on his pony one evening and carried Weir out into theopen where their words would not be overheard. He reported that he wasquietly working for information of Weir's father among the olderMexicans who would be likely to remember him, but proceedingcautiously so that no one would suspect his purpose. He representedhimself to them as undertaking to write a history of San Mateo County;he must depend upon them for data of early days; it would be a finebook bound in leather, in which their names and possibly theirpictures would appear;--which never failed to flatter the parties withwhom he talked. And the lawyer laughed with amusement as he relatedthe success of his method. 

"I have already seen some thirty or forty people, a few of whomrecalled your father, but no more. But this afternoon, " he continued, "I discovered a woman who worked at the Weir ranch house. " Martinezperceived the engineer's attention quicken. "She said the Weirs had alittle boy of four years of age, perhaps five. You, Mr. Weir, ofcourse. They suddenly paid and discharged her one day, packed a trunkand drove hurriedly off; and the next morning Sorenson took possessionof the ranch and she went home. They drove off in a great haste--therewas no railroad anywhere near here then--and that was the last sheever saw or heard of them. "

"Yes. "

"One thing more there was: she said there was a story that went aroundfor awhile afterwards that Weir and another had lost their ranches andcattle gambling. For that reason Weir left the country; and for thatreason, too, the other man, Dent, by name, committed suicide inVorse's saloon where they had gambled. She said Saurez, an old manliving with his son up a little creek, would know about that, for heused to clean out Vorse's bar-room in those days. "

Steele Weir grasped Martinez's shoulder in a quick grip. 

"He did! Get everything he knows out of him, " he commanded. 

"Leave it to me, Mr. Weir. I understand how to wheedle facts out ofthese old fellows. "

But it was doubtful if the engineer heard his words. He had droppedhis hand, stood opening and shutting his fingers, while on his facegrew the hard implacable look that always whetted the attorney'scuriosity. 

Weir walked up on the hillside when Martinez had ridden away and theresat down on a rock. It was a rift, though but a faint rift, that thisnews made in the blank dark wall he had to confront; and he wished tothink. Proof as well as knowledge of what had happened in his father'scase was what he must have. Acting on intuition he had been able toput fear into the hearts of the four men responsible for making hisfather's life a hell, but proof of their guilt was necessary to makethem suffer in a similar fashion, to reveal their crime to the world, to destroy them. Now at last, here was a possibility. If this formerroustabout of the saloon knew anything!

Well, he must be patient--the mill of the gods grinds slowly. But whenfinally he had gained all the strands and woven the net! Unconsciouslyhis hands arose before his face like talons closing on prey and shuton air, until their veins swelled. That was how he would serve them, those men. Though they might fall on their knees and implore mercy, not one beat of pity should move his heart. 

It was almost dark when he arose. Behind him the great peaks soaredagainst the last greenish twilight. In the shacks the camp lamps wereshowing at windows. At one side and in the canyon the concrete core ofthe dam appeared white in the gloom, like a bank of snow. The murmurof voices, an occasional distant laugh, came from men's quarters. 

Presently he slanted down the hillside past the camp, until he struckinto a road leading towards town, where he began to walk forward, hatless and without coat, through the soft dusk. He was disinclinedfor work as yet, the work always piled on his desk; he desired yetfor a little to rest his spirit in the evening calm. 

His thoughts had softened and turned to Janet Hosmer. He had not seenher since the morning at the court house. He had not spoken with hersince that interview upon her veranda, which had terminated with hisshocked utterance. That he had thus given away to his feeling he had ahundred times repented; and that he had so bruskly departed he wasprofoundly chagrined. But what could he have done? No explanation waspossible. The situation in which he had been allowed of but one thing, escape. 

With the rising tide of emotion reflected by memory of that moment hissteps had quickened. All at once he discovered before him the ripplingsheen of water. He was at Chico Creek, a mile from camp, where hefirst had met Janet Hosmer. Engaged with his tangled problem, he hadbeen unaware of the distance covered. 

Pausing but an instant he waded through, smiling to himself at thoughtof that afternoon's spirited encounter with the girl. She had notdreamed then, nor he, that events would fling them together in a moredramatic second meeting at Martinez' door. 

Suddenly he perceived a white-clad figure before him, standingmotionless, leaning forward to peer his way as he walked forth fromthe ford. 

"It's you, Mr. Weir?" came in soft inquiry. 

"Yes. How in the world do you happen to be here, Janet Hosmer?"

She laughed. 

"I thought I recognized you marching through the stream, so I wasn'talarmed. "

"No one would think of harming you, I'm sure. "

"But anyway I should have vanished if you had been a stranger. "

"Not being one, you remained. I had no idea of such luck as this whenI set out for a walk. "

Both pleasure and satisfaction sounded in his voice. 

"I was just taking a little stroll myself, " said she. 

CHAPTER IX

AN UNEXPECTED ALLY

"Let me take the chance first thing to apologize for my behavior thenight we talked on your porch, " Steele Weir exclaimed. "Your statementof being engaged surprised me into words and conduct that has had mein an unhappy state of mind ever since. Mr. Sorenson's talk to thecrowd stirred my anger. Had I known your exact relationship to him andhis son, I should have made no mistakes. "

"I had urged you to speak, had I not?"

"Grant that. But I don't stand excused. "

"There was no questioning the sincerity of your last expression thatnight, in any case, " she said. "But I've not been indignant because ofwhat you exclaimed or because you hate the Sorensons. 'Hate' isn't toostrong a word, is it? I'm none the less interested however to knowwhat it's all about. You see I don't take any stock in the reasonscommonly given: that you're a 'bad man, ' an agent of a richcorporation trying to put our people out of business, a public menaceand all the rest. "

"Is that what they say?" Weir asked, with a laugh. 

"Part of it. Nor does it fool father, for he said only yesterday thatthere's something more at bottom of the feeling against you thanmerely a fight of moneyed interests. He knows from what I told himthat that dead man tried to murder you; yet he hears constant talk ofyour 'crime, ' of evidence being gathered against you by the countyattorney, Mr. Lucerio, and of the penalty you shall pay. All absurd, to be sure. "

"Mr. Martinez tells me the same, " Steele responded. "But he says alsothat all the people do not believe the stories. "

"That's true. " And she appeared to reflect upon the circumstance. 

To Weir nothing could be stranger than this talk on the dark road withthe girl who, too, should be naturally opposed to him. In fact, hereat this very spot and at their first meeting she had announced herselfas a critic and an enemy. He could smile over that now; she herselfprobably did smile at the recollection. Yet she was calmly discussinghis situation without animus or even unfriendliness. 

How could that be possible if she actually loved the man whom sheexpected to marry, Ed Sorenson? Why did she not at once spring to armsin defense of the Sorenson side? Unless--unless she suspected thebaseness of her lover and his father, and fear had replaced love. 

All at once she spoke. 

"They will put you in jail if they can, and bring you to trial, and--and----"

"And hang me, that's what you hesitate to say, " Steele finished forher. "Whom do you mean by 'they'?"

"The people. "

"Are the people here in this county really 'they'? Do the people, thatis, the mass of poor ignorant Mexicans, have anything to do withpublic affairs? Both you and I know they do not. "

"Why deny it!" she sighed. "It's generally known that four men, witha few more at their skirts, run things. They nominate the men who areto fill office--there's only one political party in the county worthmentioning--and give them orders and expect them to obey. For thatreason father would never accept an office. He could be coroner; hecould be county treasurer; he could go to the legislature; or anythingelse--if he would but wear their political livery. But he prefers tobe a free man. I used to think nothing of it, see no wrong in such astate of affairs, for everything went along well enough and about thesame as ever as far as I could see. "

"Possibly you didn't see everything that was occurring below thesurface even then. "

"Exactly what father told me yesterday. We talked about everythingunder the sun, I imagine. And I informed him that you walked home withme the night of the shooting; I had not spoken of it before. "

"That was proper; he should know it. "

"He doesn't share in the feeling against you, Mr. Weir, let me assureyou of that. Ever since he heard my explanation of the shooting andthen met you at the inquest, he's convinced that you're being done agreat injustice. "

Steele experienced a warm glow of pleasure. 

"I liked your father at first sight, " said he, simply. "But where doesall this leave us?" He spoke in a light tone of amusement that he wasfar from feeling. "Our position is--odd. "

"It is, " she assented so earnestly that he began to laugh. 

"You mustn't allow it to disturb you. I'm really presuming upon yourkindness of heart and innocence in enjoying your company now. Acquaintance with me is a rather serious matter here in San Mateo andcarries consequences. You don't think for an instant that I'd allow mypersonal pleasure--and pleasure it is to be with you, needless tosay--to bring you into ill-favor among your friends and to make youthe subject of gossip. I appreciate your good spirit towards me; and Iadmire you greatly. But it will be well if I admire you at a distancehereafter. "

"I don't see whose business it is except mine. "

To Steele Weir it was like pushing aside the only thing thatbrightened his hard, toilsome existence thus to abjure futurecompanionship with her. 

"Good heavens, do you fancy that comes easy for me to say?" heexclaimed, drawing a deep breath. "I never before knew any onewho--well, I'll stop there. "

"Who what?" she demanded. 

"I nearly overstepped the bounds. "

"Oh, that's it. "

What imp of perversity was in the girl? Weir stared at her for amoment through the gloom. 

And then she remarked that she must be returning home, and said shewould be glad if he would accompany her part way as there was aMexican's house half way to town where a particularly vicious dogalways rushed out. The dog rushed out exactly as she had predicted, barking savagely, so that she slipped her arm into the engineer's andheld fast until they were past. 

"He does that only after dark; I hadn't expected to walk so far and itwas still light when I set out, " said she. 

The touch of her fingers on his sleeve, the light swing of her form athis side, the subtle fragrance that emanated from her hair and face, this intimate nearness on the dark road, the heavy scent of flowersin the bordering fields, --all sent the blood thumping from his heart. If he--if he were in Ed Sorenson's place, what love he could pourout!

Ed Sorenson, the double-faced wretch who while engaged to her hadattempted to entice away for his own vile gratification the simple, trustful girl on Terry Creek, he was to marry this sweet and charmingcompanion. What diabolical tragedies life could mix!

"See, the moon is rising, " she said. 

Over the edge of the mesa the yellow globe was bulging, rayless forthe moment, round and full. 

"We're almost at the edge of town, and I'll stop here, " he replied. "As I said, I'd not bring down upon your head a single unpleasantword. "

"My head's not so tender, " she responded quickly. "But I think you'reright--for the present. " A tight little smile followed the words. "We'll see. "

"That's best. "

"But I propose to stand by you. I told you that night I couldn'tremain indifferent when I saw an innocent man persecuted. "

"You give me a tremendous amount of happiness. "

"If I do, I'm glad. I don't believe you ever had much of it. Do youknow what is said? That you never smile. But I can swear that isn'ttrue, and I'm beginning to wonder if you really are--Heavens, what wasI about to say!"

"Go ahead. It's nothing terrible, I wager. "

"Well, I won't finish that, but I'll ask a question even moreimpertinent, if I may. Frankly, I'm dying of curiosity to know. "

Weir turned his head to listen to the approach of a horseman. He couldsee the man galloping towards them for town, having turned into theroad from a lane a short distance off, his horse's hoofs striking anoccasional spark from a stone. Then the engineer looked smilingly atJanet Hosmer. 

"I'll tell you anything--or almost anything. " One subject alone wassealed. 

"It's that name. "

"Name?"

"'Cold Steel. ' How did you get it?"

"It was just pinned on me a few years ago. I'm not particularly proudof it. I don't even know the rogue who gave me the label. And it meansnothing. "

"Even you enemies are using it, --and I understand what it signifies. "She bent her eyes upon him for a time. "That is, what it signifies toyour friends. "

"And to my enemies?"

"More gossip. They say it's because you're a gun-man and a knife-man. Oh, I wish I didn't have to have my ears filled with such viciousslander! But it means the same to enemies as to friends if they wouldbut admit it. I'll wait until this rider passes, then I must go. "

No thought of friends or foes, both, or of any such person as EdSorenson in particular, was in Steele's mind as he made answer. 

"I'd stand here forever if you didn't go, " he said, with a loweagerness that caused her breath to flutter in spite of herself. 

On her part, her mind was whispering, "He means it, I believe hereally means it. " Which caused her to lift and lower her eyeshurriedly, and feel a peculiar sense of trepidation and excitement. Odd to state, she, too, just then had no recollection of any suchbeing as Ed Sorenson, which was the extreme of unloverliness. 

"Before I do go, I've something to tell you, " she said hurriedly, dropping her voice. "It's this: the dead man's name was"--here hertone went down to a mere sibilance--"Pete Ortez. "

He leaned forward, once again the hard fierce man she had seen inMartinez' office the night of the shooting. 

"How did you learn that?"

"It--well, it was let slip inadvertently in my presence. "

Weir would not press her further. Nor was there need, for the suddenembarrassment on her face and indeed the information itself could havebut one source, the man who knew, Ed Sorenson. 

"You're the equal of a thousand ordinary friends, " he declared. "I canmake use of that item. Step aside, please; we're in the middle of theroad. " And he drew her from in front of the horseman advancing uponthem. 

They said nothing, but waited for the man to pass. But he pulled hismount from a gallop to a trot, and from a trot to a foot pace, and atlast when squarely even with them came to a full stop. From under hisbroad hat brim he silently considered the girl in white summer dressand the bare-headed engineer. 

Then he began to shake with laughter, which lasted but an instant. Soinsulting, so sinister was that noiseless laugh that Janet's hand hadflown to Weir's arm, which she nervously clutched. As for Weir, hislimbs stiffened--she felt the tightening of the arm she grasped--as atiger's body grows taut preparatory to a spring. 

The short, fleshy, insolent rider sitting there in the moonlight wasBurkhardt. 

"Ed Sorenson better keep an eye on his little turtledove, " heremarked. And touching heel to his animal he swung ahead for town. 

For one dazed minute they stared after him. 

"Shoot him!" she suddenly said, through shut teeth. 

"I haven't my gun along, or I'd be glad to oblige you. "

"He deserves killing, the wretch!"

"On more accounts than one, " he replied, quietly. 

So quietly and so gravely, in truth, that her gust of rage subsidedbefore the low-spoken menace of the words. No quick anger was his buta steady and deadly purpose. Again she felt the hard-held force, themystery of the man, as if flowing suddenly upward from subterraneanchannels. What wrong had he suffered, what undeserved torture at thehands of this man and others thus to freeze his soul?

But he immediately turned to her, asking, "Does that upset thebroth?"

A wan smile greeted his words. 

"I expect it will keep the cook busy, anyway, " she said. 

CHAPTER X

BY RIGHT OF POSSESSION

Janet Hosmer made no effort to guess what her fiancé would say whennext he called, or to prepare a defense of explanations and excuses. She was not that kind. What was necessary to be stated at the propertime would arise to her lips. Nevertheless she had a heaviness ofheart, a natural distress as to the unpleasantness in prospect; andhad only the slightest hope that Ed would ignore or refuse to hearBurkhardt's story. The man would tell her lover, of that she mightrest assured, out of hatred for the engineer if for no other reason. 

She knew how passionately Ed was set against Steele Weir, for a scoreof times she had heard his incensed opinions, increasing lately totirades. It had seemed strange at first that one could be so bitterover a simple difference like that of who should work at the dam. Butever since Weir had uttered his hoarse exclamation regarding herengagement, words so full of protest and amazed indignation, she wasaware the cause went deeper. 

At that moved ejaculation of her companion that night something, too, had settled on her heart like a weight--an indefinable foreboding. Theanxiety aroused about Ed's father and his integrity came to include Edlikewise. Loyalty of course required that she accept the man she hadpromised to marry, without reservations. As between him and othersthere should be but one choice. But did she really know him? Was hesimply the open, jolly, generous, upright adoring fellow he appeared?Or were there less pleasant, more ignoble sides to his character? Washe, as well as his father, capable of a mean, unworthy, selfishpersecution of another?

The engineer had made no open accusation against him--or against anyone, for that matter. She had done her best to get him to expresshimself, but he had refused. Enemies he might have, but he would notdiscuss the fact beyond admitting it was true. Only at moments whenhis restraint slipped could she measure his feelings. Quite differentthat from Ed Sorenson's voluble, heated denunciations of the other. Yet, heavens, how appalled this reserved man had been at hearing ofher engagement! Far more than words, far more than any open charge, did his face and incredulity, both so patently sincere, bespeak themistake she was making and justify gnawing doubts of her lover. 

As she approached her home Ed Sorenson came dashing out to spring intohis runabout waiting before the gate. At sight of her he pulled upshort. 

"Ah, here you are, " he said. 

"Yes, here I am, " was her reply. 

"You doubtless know what I've been told, " he stated, significantly. 

"No, I don't. I can only suspect. "

"Is it true you've been meeting this man Weir on the quiet? Meetinghim while engaged to me? You know what I think of him, and what everyother respectable person thinks of him. "

"Was that Mr. Burkhardt's report? That I am meeting Mr. Weir on thequiet, to use your words?" she countered. 

Sorenson made an angry gesture at what he considered an evasion. 

"Janet, listen. He said he saw you at the edge of town, that youwere both bare-headed, standing close together, arms locked. Goodheavens, can't you imagine my feelings on hearing what he had tosay! He stopped me on the street and drew me aside to put me on myguard, he said. Burkhardt wouldn't just make up a yarn like thatagainst you, and he's a good friend of mine. He didn't say halfwhat he suggested. "

The girl turned her face towards the house, shut her eyes for aninstant. She could picture the rider's brutal leering face andunspoken insinuations; and her brain also placed in the scene herlover greedily if angrily drinking in the tale. Harkening to itinstead of knocking the man down, that was the worst of it. Harkening--and believing. 

"I'll not deign to resent your remark of meeting Mr. Weir 'on thequiet', " said she, quietly. "I met him on the road accidentally. "

"Don't you think I'm entitled to know something about it?" he asked, with an edged tone. 

"What is it you desire to know?"

Nearly an oath of wrath escaped his mouth, but he kept his control. 

"Janet, you know what kind of a man he is, " he said. "You know what Ifeel against him, and father, and all our friends, and the town. Andthe whole town, too, will probably hear of this, with a lot of gossipadded that isn't true. "

"But I met him accidentally. "

"You didn't have to chat with him like an old friend. "

Janet Hosmer gave him a slow, meditative look. 

"How do you know how I talked with him?"

"You talked with him. That in itself was too much. "

"I don't view it in that light, " she responded. "He was perfectlycivil. Whatever public opinion may be regarding the shooting, I knowhe killed the man in self-defence. So that's nothing against him. Youwould have done the same in his place. "

Ed Sorenson leaned towards her. 

"You were mistaken, Janet. I've said before that I feared you were, but the prosecuting attorney has witnesses to the gun-play that he'sdug up. Martinez saw nothing; how could he from inside the office? Andremember that you're only a girl, Janet; in the darkness and with theexcitement you were confused. I haven't a doubt this scoundrel Weirmade you believe you saw what never occurred, when you appeared inMartinez' office. When you've thought it over, you'll realize thatyourself. These new witnesses tell just the reverse of what youfancied happened. I'm going to see that you're away from San Mateowhen the man's tried, as he will be. "

No reply coming from her, he continued:

"He deceived you then and he'll endeavor to poison your mind rightalong. You're too trustful. Now, I was angry at first, but if therewas anything in this meeting to-night that was out of the way, it washis doing, I know. If he got familiar with you, as Burkhardthinted----"

"Well?"

"I'll kill the dog with my own hands!"

"You may rest easy. His conduct was irreproachable, Mr. Burkhardt tothe contrary. "

Sorenson regarded her in perplexity, divided between anger and doubts. Too, a new feeling unaccountably sprang into his breast--jealousy. Inthe end apprehension all at once filled his mind, darkening his faceand bringing down his brows. 

Uneasy as at first he had been after the row in the restaurant, he hadeventually dismissed the matter from his mind, for no rumor of it hadreached San Mateo. Neither Weir nor Johnson, the girl's father, hadblabbed of it, so his alarm passed; they didn't want to talk of it forthe girl's sake, any more than he wished it known, was his grinningconclusion. The deuce would have been to pay if Janet had got wind ofthe business. But now his fears came winging back a hundred-fold as hestared at her. 

"What did he say to you?" he asked, in a tense voice. 

"Not that tone with me, if you please. "

Sorenson, however, was past observation of her mood or temper. 

"He told you a lot of lies about me, didn't he?" he went on, nothiding the sneer. "And you believed them. "

"He didn't say much, but what he did say was to the point. I don'trecall that there were any lies. "

"There were, of course. It would be just his chance to give you hismade-up story about me and that Johnson girl. That was what sointerested you. "

"No, he didn't say anything about you and any girl except me. Thenhe only said he was sorry he couldn't have the pleasure of myfriendship----"

"Ay-ee, " the other grated. His lips worked above his teeth. 

A shudder passed over Janet Hosmer's skin at the sound and the sight, for she had never seen him like this. A cold hand might have beenclosing about her heart: his glare was animal-like and bestial. Hisnature at the instant stood unclothed. 

"And he said he would be at pains to avoid even chance meetings withme, because it would make talk and cause me annoyance. "

"He'll not meet you another time if I have anything to say about it. "

"I see. But I wanted you to understand that he told me no lies, norrepeated any story--about you and a Johnson girl, I think you said. "

A visible breath of relief lifted his breast. He now would havebeen glad for some one to boot him along the street for evermentioning the thing. He almost had put his foot in it. Apparentlyshe was not interested in seeking further knowledge of the subjectthat he so ill-advisedly had brought up. Lucky for him she hadn't theinquisitiveness of some girls. 

The narrow escape restored a trace of his good humor, and he wasshrewd enough to divert her mind before the incident made animpression. He reached out and patted her shoulder. 

"Don't think me a scold, darling, " said he. "Burkhardt upset me withhis news, that was all. He hates that gun-man so much that it's nowonder he was angry at seeing him hoodwink you. He probably imagined alot. Just don't speak to Weir if he tries to stop you again. Andpretty soon we'll have him where he won't interfere with anybody. "

"When will that be?"

"The county attorney's still collecting evidence. Nothing will be donebefore the grand jury meets, which is in a couple of weeks. You mustarrange to go off on a visit about that time. "

"Why?"

"So you won't have to go through the ordeal of appearing in court. There are ways of fixing such things. " He laughed softly. "Especiallyhere in San Mateo County. It's too rotten a business for you to haveto step into, this murder. Come along down to the drug store and havesome ice cream. "

"Not to-night. I'm feeling a little tired. "

"Then let us rest on your porch. I haven't seen you twice in the lastweek. "

"Some other evening, Ed. I promised father to help get up his accountbooks. "

"You're not angry with me?" he asked. "If you're not, give me a kissbefore I go. "

A sharp smile showed on her lips. 

"I'm not angry, but I'm going to penalize you to that extent. If youmust have a cheek to press, go kiss----" She paused, while theconviction darted into his mind that she had remembered that Johnsongirl blunder after all, then said: "Mr. Burkhardt's cheek. "

Again relief swept him. 

"Come, be kind, Janet, " he began. But she was already through the gateand skipping up the walk, vanishing in the gloom of the veranda. Thescreen door clapped shut. "Peeved, all right. I'll have to beextra-nice to her for a day or so until she calms down, " he murmuredto himself. "Must send her a box of chocolates and some magazinesto-morrow to show my contrite heart; that always gets 'em. Hang it, it's time to fix a day, too. We've been engaged long enough. She surehas a figure and face--a beaut! I guess she didn't smell the booze onmy breath. Got to be careful about that till we're married. " He jumpedinto his car. 

The screen door had clapped shut, but Janet had not entered. She hademployed the artifice to convey the impression it had. She did notwish to go in to her work just yet, for calm as she had appearedduring the interview her emotions were running full tide. Love EdSorenson? Marry him? She groped for and dropped into a wicker chair, her head sinking in shame and self-abasement. Never--never!

And before her mind swam another face, a face with the hair ruffledabout the brow, clear of eyes and strong-lined, as she had beheld itin the moonlight of the road. 

All at once she tugged at a finger, fiercely pulling off theengagement ring. She rubbed her cheek as well, with an angry hand, forthe memory of kisses was burning her as by fire. 

Then she sat quite motionless for a long time. 

"I'll just ask father, " she exclaimed. "There can't be more than adozen Johnsons around here. "

Which would have given Ed Sorenson a fresh jolt in his breathingapparatus if he had overheard, and shriveled the cocky self-assurancewith which he sipped a high-ball that moment at Vorse's bar. 

CHAPTER XI

JANET AND MARY

In a region as sparsely settled by white people as San Mateo and itsadjoining counties there were not, as Janet put it, more than a dozenJohnson families. In fact, there were but two, she learned from herfather: one at Bowenville, the small railroad town of three hundredpeople, a merchant with a wife and four little children; the other arancher on Terry Creek, whose wife was dead and who had one child, agirl of sixteen or seventeen years of age. 

"I may be away at dinner time, so don't wait for me, " she told herfather next morning. "I'm going out in the country a few miles--andyou know my car! If you'd just let me squeeze some of these patientswho never pay, you could have a new car yourself. "

"Mine's all right, " he smiled. 

"But mine isn't. Look at it. You gave it to me only because youscorned to ride in it any longer yourself. It would do for me, yousaid, but you prance around in a bright shiny one yourself. I blush atthe row mine makes; sounds like a boiler factory; I drive only alongside streets. If the patients would pay what they owe, I could ridelike a lady instead of a slinking magpie. "

The doctor leaned back in his chair and laughed (they were atbreakfast) and remarked that old friends were best. 

"Don't call my asthmatic tin beast a friend; we're bitter enemies, "said she. 

It carried her to Terry Creek about noon, however, safely enough, whither she went with a firm resolution that crushed a certainembarrassment and anxiety. Suppose these people resented herinquiries. 

She placed the bearded, tanned rancher at once, when she saw himworking on a piece of harness before the door as she drove up. She hadseen him in town at different times. She once had stopped here, too, several years previous when accompanying her father, who had beencalled to dress the rancher's injured hand. The girl could not havebeen over twelve or thirteen then, a shabby, awkward girl wearing abraid who came out to gaze shyly at her sitting in the car. 

Johnson arose from the ground and approached as she alighted, whilethe girl's head popped into sight at the door. 

"I'm Dr. Hosmer's daughter, Janet, " she stated, putting out her handand smiling. "I've come to see you on a matter. Shall we go into thehouse?"

With curiosity sharing a vague hostility in his bearing he led her in, where his daughter was setting the table. Janet also told the girl whoshe was. At once dismay and startlement greeted the announcement. Butshe invited Janet to be seated, she herself withdrawing to a spot bythe stove. 

No need for Janet to beat about the bush with her errand. 

"Mr. Johnson, " she said, "I've come to you and your daughter for alittle help if you can give it. " That seemed the best way to breakdown their reserve, an appeal rather than simply blunt questions--andwhat was it if not an appeal? "What I have to say is just among thethree of us and I know it will go no farther. You're acquainted withmy father; he's respected by every one. "

"He is, " Johnson stated, nodding. 

"The situation is this, to speak plainly: last night I heard somethingthat has caused me to come to you for information; I'm engaged to EdSorenson, and in a moment of anger he denounced Mr. Weir, the engineerat the dam, for having told me a false story--lies--about him and yourdaughter. "

Janet perceived the quick, troubled look exchanged by man and girl. 

"Mr. Weir has never mentioned your daughter's name in my hearing; Ithink him incapable of discussing any one maliciously. He's verycareful of what he says. I consider him a very honorable man. At anyrate, he said nothing of what Ed Sorenson suggested, and if the latterhimself hadn't spoken of the thing I should have had no inkling thatthere had been anything justifying an inquiry on my part. There maynot be. But why should he imagine Mr. Weir had told me 'lies' linkinghim and your daughter?"

"I know Weir--and I know Ed Sorenson, too, " was the rancher's grimrejoinder. 

"This is a disagreeable subject, I know. But I'm not here out of merecuriosity, but a desire to learn if something has been concealed fromme by Ed Sorenson that I should be informed of. His manner, his words, the whole incident has filled me with doubts. See, I'm trusting youabsolutely. " And she extended a hand in a gesture bespeakingsincerity. 

Johnson peered at her in silence from under shaggy brows. 

"I ask myself why Mr. Sorenson took it for granted that the engineerhad been telling me false stories and if there was any ground for suchfears, " she went on. "He had nothing to be afraid of, no matter whatmight be said, if he had done nothing unworthy. I can't imagine Mr. Weir, for instance, being alarmed in that way. "

"They're telling plenty of lies about him, for that matter, but Iguess it doesn't worry him any, " Johnson said. 

"What I ask you touches a delicate subject, perhaps, " Janet continued, reluctantly. "You may feel that I'm pushing in where I'm notconcerned. But if Mr. Sorenson has done anything discreditable--if hehas acted in a way to make me ashamed when I know, then it becomes amatter affecting my happiness too. I would never marry a man who haddone something dishonorable, for if I did so knowingly I should bedishonored and dishonorable as well. "

Johnson suddenly thrust a brown forefinger at her. 

"Do you want to know what Sorenson did?" he demanded, wrathfully. 

Janet gripped her hands together. "Yes. "

"You'll not go spreading it all around the country? But I guess youwon't as long as it would make you out a fool too. I'll not haveMary's name dragged about in a lot of gossip. "

"I assure you I shall remain silent, for her sake and my own. "

"All right, I'll tell you. You're too good a girl--any decent girlis--to marry Ed Sorenson. He met Mary at a dance last spring in townwhere she went with some friends of ours, and made love to her butwouldn't let her tell me or any one. We don't get to town so veryoften; she never knew he was engaged to marry you, there neverhappening to be any mention of it to her. Then he got her to go toBowenville one day awhile ago, under promise to marry her there--Maryis only sixteen, a little girl yet. To me, anyway. "

Janet felt the working of his love in those simple words. Felt it buthalf-consciously, though, for her own soul was stifling at EdSorenson's revealed infamy. 

"When he got her there, he told her they would have to go away fartherto be married--to Los Angeles. " Again his finger came up, this time tobe shaken at her like a hammer. "He never intended to marry her; heplanned to get her there, ruin her, and cast her off. That's the sortof man you're going to marry!"

"I remember he expected to be away for a couple of weeks--a businesstrip, he said. But afterwards he explained that it hadn't beennecessary to go. "

"A business trip! Yes, the dirty kind of business he likes. And if ithadn't been that Weir heard him explaining to Mary that she must go onand interfered--there in the restaurant--Ed Sorenson might havesucceeded. Mary trusted him, thought he was straight. But he'scrooked, crooked as his old man. When Weir told him to his face whathe thought of his tricks, he let it out he was engaged to you. Didn'tmean to, of course. Weir said he would stay right with them and seethat they got married next day before a minister, then Sorensonsnapped out he was to marry you. That opened Mary's eyes, that and hisrefusing to go before a preacher as the engineer demanded. So Weirbrought her home to me. 

"And that isn't all I know, " he snarled. "Mexicans and cowboys andothers have talked--women don't hear these things--how he's had topay Mexicans hush-money for girls of theirs he's wronged. But what dopeople care? He's rich, he's old man Sorenson's boy; everything's keptquiet; and he goes around as big as life. " With a muttered oath heturned away, his lips shut hard and his beard sticking out savagely. 

He came back to her again. 

"The young one gets it from the old one, " he exclaimed. "Bad crookedblood in both of them. I know. I've been here ever since I was a boyand remember things Sorenson believes every one has forgotten, I knowhow he got his start, how he and the rest of his bunch cleaned outDent of his ranch and cattle gambling and then killed him when hediscovered they had used marked cards, how at the same time theyrobbed another man----"

Janet struggled to her feet. She had covered her eyes and bowed herhead before the torrent of his vehemence. 

"No more, I want to hear no more, " she gasped. "Let me go home. I'msick. "

"It all makes me sick, too, " he answered. "Sick and sore, both. Butit's the truth. I'm sorry if it's been a bad pill to swallow, but it'sthe God's truth, girl. I'm sorry it couldn't be any other way, but Iwouldn't see you marry that scoundrel if I lost a hand stopping you. Mary felt sick at first, too; she's over it now. You'll not feel badlong. Better stay for dinner with us. "

"I couldn't swallow a bite. Thank you for your kindness in askingme--and for telling me what I wanted to know, too. Father never knew, or he would have warned me. People saw I was engaged to Ed Sorensonand would say nothing to father, of course. I shall always count youas one of my best friends, Mr. Johnson. And you too, Mary; you mustcome down and stay with me sometime, for I imagine you get lonelyhere. No, another day I'll remain to dinner--and I want to be alonenow. "

They pressed her no further, seeing her wretchedness of spirit. Butthey walked with her to the car and shook hands with her when she wasin and urged her to come again. 

When she had disappeared in the aspens among which the trail led, Marysaid to her father:

"You said they killed a man named Dent. "

"They did. I saw the killing. "

"And nothing was ever done about it?"

"No. Nobody but me knew of the happening and I'd of had a bulletthrough my heart if I'd talked. I might yet even now, so see that youkeep your mouth shut. "

"You told her. "

"I was mad, so mad I could say anything. But she isn't the kind torepeat the story; I'm not afraid on that score. She's clean strain allthrough. "

"Did you know the man whom Sorenson and the others killed?" Maryquestioned, in some awe. 

"I knew of him, but I was only a lad then. I saw it all through theback door of Vorse's saloon where it happened, but I've never breathedabout it to a soul. I didn't want to be murdered some dark night. Those four men would see that the job was done quick even now, I'msaying, if they were on to the fact. I know 'em, if nobody elsedoes. "

Mary's skin crawled with prickles of fear. 

"They must be awful bad. "

"They were devils then, and I don't think they've changed to angelsto-day, though they try to appear decent. I know 'em; I know whatthey'll do once they start. You can't make sheep out of wolves just bygiving 'em a fleece. "

"You said they robbed another man at the same time they killed thatDent. "

"Yes; and it only goes to show the hellish crooks they are. It wasanother man in the saloon. He was drunk. They made him believe he hadkilled Dent. Then said they'd help him to get away if he gave them hisproperty. He was a rich fellow who had come out from the east and goneto ranching, a tenderfoot. They took his stuff and he skipped thecountry with his wife. That was the last of him, and I reckon hebelieves to this day that he's a murderer. And that's how they got thestart of their wealth, or a big part of it, Sorenson and Vorse and theother two. They've got the San Mateo Cattle Company, with fiftythousand head of steers, and ten or twenty bands of sheeps andranches, and the bank, and all the rest, and they walk around likehonest men. But they're thieves and murderers, Mary, thieves andmurderers! I'd rather be the man I am, poor and with nothing but thislittle mortgaged piece of ground and my few cattle, than them, whorobbed Dent and killed him and then robbed and drove out Weir. "

"Was that the other man's name?"

"Yes. "

"That's funny. The same as the man who brought me home. "

"There are lots of Weirs, like the Johnsons. "

"Not so many, I guess. Maybe they're related. Did the man who skippedhave any children?"

"No. None I ever heard of, though I didn't know much about him. Justhim and his wife, I think. "

Johnson had perceived no resemblance between the engineer and thevanished man of whom he spoke. As for that, however, he had no clearrecollection of the elder Weir's face; he was but twelve years old atthe time of the dramatic event, thirty years before. 

"Now, come along and eat, " he said. "And remember! Not a word of thisto a soul. "

Meanwhile Janet Hosmer was driving slowly down the canyon, obliviousthat opportunity to unlock the whole mystery had been hers, neverdreaming that she had just missed by the slenderest margin what SteeleWeir would have given the world to know. 

For an instant Fate had placed the key in her hand. She knew it not;it was withdrawn again and the door remained closed and locked whilethe threads of Destiny continued to be spun. 

CHAPTER XII

THE PLOT

In Vorse's saloon, where in the past so many evil ideas for theacquisition of money or power had sprouted, the scheme had itsinception. It had been of slow growth, with innumerable suggestionsconsidered, tested, discarded. The intended arrest and trial of Weirhad been the first aim; but this had expanded until at last the plothad become of really magnificent proportions, cunning yet daring, devilish enough even to satisfy the hate and greed of its originators, consummate in design, absolutely safe and conclusive. 

It was Sorenson who conceived the notion of pulling the irrigationproject down in ruins at the moment of Weir's own fall. Judge Gordon afew days later had pieced out the method, which was either to corruptthe workmen to wreck dam and camp or to place them in the equivocalposition of having done so apparently though others did it in fact. Vorse and Burkhardt devised the details. Weir should be left freeuntil the blow had fallen on the camp, whereupon he should beimmediately clapped into jail on the murder charge, which, coming ontop of the "riot, " would paralyze all company action and work. Fromsuch a crushing double-blow no concern could quickly recover, ifindeed the loss did not result in total cessation of construction. 

Thus shedding their coats of expedient lawfulness, they revertedunder the menace of Steele Weir's presence to the men they were in anearlier age--an age when a few white land and cattle "barons"dominated the region, predatory, arrogant, masterful and despotic; theage just ceasing when the elder Weir and Dent arrived; the age oftheir youth forty years before, the age when railroads and telegraphsand law were remote, and chicanery and force were the common agents, and "guns" the final arbiters. 

To them Weir was like a reincarnated spirit of that age. He guessed ifhe did not know their past. He had appeared in order to challengetheir supremacy, end their rule, avenge his father's dispossession attheir hands. He instinctively and by nature was an enemy; he wouldhave been their enemy in any other place and under any othercircumstances. He was a head-hunter, and in turn was to be hunteddown. He was the kind who neither made compromises nor asked quarter. He veiled his purposes in as great secrecy as did they, and when hestruck it would be suddenly, fiercely, mercilessly--if he struck. Theywere determined he should not strike, being himself first surprisedand crushed, for though in ignorance of what he could bring againstthem their fears were real. Everything, indeed, about the manantagonized them, alarmed them, stirred their hate and filmed theireyes with blood. He must be destroyed. 

"And with him the dam, " Sorenson had said. "Both together. " For therewas no effort to conceal among themselves their savage intention. 

"He'll never come to trial, " Vorse remarked, with a malignant gleam inhis blue eyes and a shutting of his thin lips. "An attempted jaildelivery by 'friends' will fix that. All they will have to do then isto buy him a pine box. "

"If the man had but stayed away!" Judge Gordon exclaimed. Cunning, notforce, was his forte; and the measures in prospect at times hadoppressed him with dreadful forebodings. He was growing old, feeble, and here when he was entitled to peace he still had to fight for hisown. 

In accordance with the scheme Burkhardt vanished from San Mateo for atime, ostensibly on business but in fact on a journey across theMexican line, where he conducted negotiations with a certain"revoluçionista" of no particular notoriety as yet, of avariciouscharacter, unscrupulous nature, and with a small following of fellowbandits and a large animosity for Americans. His ambition was toemulate the brilliant Villa. But pickings had been poor of late, nomore than that of stealing a few horses from across the border. ToBurkhardt, who had heard of him and sought him out, he listened withinterest and bargained with zest. Five thousand in gold for fifty menwas like pearls from Paradise. And whatever this Yankee's own privatepurpose, it was a chance for the chieftain to strike secretly andsafely at Americans, in addition. 

"They will come through in squads after they've slipped across theline, " Burkhardt reported. "They're to pose as laborers. "

"When?" Sorenson asked. 

"Along next week. They're to drop off down along the railroad atdifferent towns and I'll run them up into the mountains with somegrub. Then we'll assemble them quietly a couple miles off from thedam, where they'll be handy on the chosen night. Afterwards we'll slipthem back to the railroad, and they fade into Mexico. Weir's workmenwill be drunk and rowing--and will have done the job, eh?" Burkhardtshook with suppressed, evil laughter. 

"If they're drunk, they may join in and help, " Judge Gordon stated, acutely. "A mob full of whiskey will do anything. If they did take ahand, it would round out the case against them perfectly. Very likelynext day they, too, would fade, as you put it, Burkhardt; they wouldwant to get out of this part of country as quickly as possible whenthey realized what had happened. I see no flaw in our plan. Fortunately the three directors who are coming will be gone by the endof next week. "

"What's that? What directors?" Burkhardt asked. 

"They're to be here on an inspection trip, so they wrote, and will bepleased to hear our complaints in regard to the question of workmen. "Gordon's tone was ironical. "I wrote them protesting Weir's dischargeof our people, you remember, but that was some time ago. "

"What's the use of paying attention to the fools now?"

"We must carry out the farce, Burkhardt, for the sake of appearances. "

"I'd like to blow them up along with their dam!" was the scowlingrejoinder, "Well, let 'em inspect. Next time they come back therewon't be any. "

"I believe we should arrest Weir before the thing's pulled off, "Gordon said, meditatively. "It would be surer. "

Sorenson set his heavy jaw. 

"No. I want him to see the wreck; I want him to know just what'shappened before he's haled away; I want him feeling good and sickalready when he gets the next jolt. "

"Sure. It's him or us, as I've said from the first; and I've alwaysbelieved in making a clean sweep, " Vorse remarked. "We have the rightline this time. First, make his men drunk and sore; then smash theworks; then arrest him quick; and last finish him off with a bulletduring a pretended jail delivery. "

"There will be elements of danger in the last, " Judge Gordon stated, cautiously. 

Vorse smiled and Burkhardt grinned. 

"Not so you'll notice it, " said the latter. "The town won't knowanything about it until afterwards. Just a few good men at night, masked and working fast, and the thing is done. "

"I'll not feel easy till it's over. "

"Keep up your nerve, Judge, " Burkhardt grunted. "You used to be aslively as anybody when you were young. "

"I know, I know. But this Weir isn't going to stand idle. If he evergets a chance with his gun----"

"He won't get it, " said Vorse. 

"And he'll not resist the sheriff when Madden arrests him legally, "Sorenson added. "Nothing could be better for us than if he did. Heknows that. "

"Still I'll be glad when next week is past, " the Judge replied, with asigh. 

CHAPTER XIII

THE CURRENT OF EVENTS

Though outwardly the world's face was as calm as ever, though peaceseemed to bask on San Mateo and the broad mesa and lofty mountainrange, events were rapidly shaping themselves to bring a thunder crashof contending forces. Not Weir, not even the little evil cabalplotting so desperately against him, guessed the scope and power ofthe passions to be released. 

As a vital impulse towards the climax, though an unconscious one onher part so far as the general play of circumstance was concerned, Janet Hosmer informed Ed Sorenson of her determination to break theirengagement. This was the same evening she returned from the Johnsonranch, when he called at her telephoned request. He went to her homeunder the impression that his box of candy and bundle of new magazineshad restored him to favor. He was very jaunty, in fact, and bent onpersuading her to name an early day for their nuptials. 

Imagine his wrath when she explained that she wished to say that shecould not marry him, at the same time handing him his ring and theother trinkets he had bestowed upon her. 

"Is it because of our little spat last night about the engineer?" hedemanded. "I apologized, Janet. I'm sorry still, and I love you aboveeverything else. "

"I think not, " said she. 

"But I do, Janet. Above everything. "

"No, not above yourself and your vices. You deceived me for a longtime, but now I know the truth. You aroused my suspicions when youmentioned a Johnson girl; there's only one Johnson girl hereabouts, asI learned; and this noon I visited her and her father. They informedme fully about your conduct towards Mary at Bowenville and yourpromises to marry her--that, when you were engaged to me. There areother things I heard to-day. Of affairs with Mexican girls that areshameful. "

"Lies, lies!" was the passionate disclaimer. "Or if I have beenflirting a little, and never since my engagement, it's no more thanany fellow does. "

"You can neither excuse nor justify your words and actions towardsMary Johnson not a month ago. "

"They're liars, I tell you. "

"Will you confront them and say that?"

Taken by surprise Sorenson hesitated, flushed, and then made a gestureof disdain. 

"I'll not, because I'll not condescend to answer such baselesscharges, " he stated. "I thought you had sense enough not to believeevery little thing you hear. Certainly I expect you not to believethis, and I know you won't on consideration. Then we'll be married. Icame here to-night to urge you to marry me soon. "

"I'll never marry you, and we're no longer engaged. You've actedfaithlessly and dishonorably. You're not the decent man I thought youwere. "

"Don't you still love me, Janet?"

"No. I don't think I ever loved you; I was loving a man who didn'texist, an illusion I imagined to be Ed Sorenson, not your real self. If I loved at all, which I now doubt! And you never loved me, thoughyou may think you did and still do. But it's not so; for no man whoreally loved a respectable girl could at the same time do what youdid. Think of it! While pretending to love me, you were secretlytrying to inveigle that poor ignorant girl away from home. You're nota man; you're a beast. The shame and disgust and humiliation I sufferat the thought of my position during that time, your effort tohoodwink both Mary Johnson and me, so fills me with anger I can't talkto you. Go, go! And please don't even speak to me hereafter, on thestreet or anywhere else. "

Instead of departing the man grasped her wrist and gave her a venomouslook. 

"It was this sneak of an engineer, after all, who told you this lieand turned you against me, " he snarled. 

"Let me go. Mr. Weir said nothing. It was you yourself who betrayedyourself, or I should not have known as I do, thank heavens. Stopholding my wrist!"

For an instant Sorenson wavered between whether he should obey hercommand or strike her as his rage prompted. A very devil of passionbeating in his breast urged him to show her her place, deal with heras he would like to do and as she deserved--throw her down and dragher by the hair until she crawled forward and clasped his knees insubjection. But the look in her eyes cooled this half-insane, whiskey-inspired desire. 

He took his hand off her wrist, picked up his hat. 

"You can't throw me down this way, " he sneered. "You're going to marryme just the same, whether you think so or not. I have a voice in thisengagement, and you can't break your word and promise to me becauseit happens to strike your fancy. Not for a single minute!"

"If you were a gentleman and a decent man you wouldn't say that. "

"I'm not either, by your judgment, so I do say it. I say it again:you're going to marry me, willingly or unwillingly. Now if afterthinking it over, you want to forget all this and go on as before, allright. If not, our engagement still holds just the same. You mayrelease me, but I haven't released you. Remember that. And keep awayfrom that engineer if you know what's best for you!"

With a scowl he stalked out of the house, leaving a very angry, verytremulous and very heart-sick girl. The fellow was in truth not a man, she perceived, but a creature so conscienceless and loathsome that sheseemed contaminated through and through by his touch, his words, andtheir previous relations. How grossly he had deceived her as to hisreal character! What a horrible future as his wife she had escaped!Nor was she yet free, for he promised to make an infinity of trouble. 

That day she could do nothing. Her father noting her face asked whatwas the trouble, and she told him the whole affair. 

"I've heard rumors of late about him and was worried, " he said. "Youdid the only thing, of course. Pay no attention to his words; I'll seehe doesn't annoy you. "

It was three or four days afterwards that she called Weir up at thedam in a desire to hear the voice of a man she knew to be straight andupright. 

"I've wondered if a girl is allowed to look at your dam, " she said onimpulse, when they had chatted for a moment. "Father, who was at yourcamp to attend an injured man, says you're making famous progress. "

"I'd be more than delighted to show you the work. But--I wonder----"

"Don't let what people say disturb you, " she replied quickly, divininghis thought. "I've arranged all that. " A somewhat obscure remark toWeir. 

"Then come any time--and often. I hope to be able to conduct youaround, the first visit at least. Next week I may not be able to do soas a committee of directors arrive who'll take my time. "

"Oh, indeed, " Janet answered, politely. 

"A manager has to be directed occasionally, or he may run wild, " sheheard, with his laugh. 

"I'll come before they do, " she said. 

Quite as she had announced she did run up to the canyon and go withWeir over the hillsides and dam, asking questions and displaying agreat interest in the men and the operation of the machinery. Theconcrete work was nearing an end. Already tracks were laid for thedump trams that were to carry dirt from steam-shovels to the dam toform its main body. 

She perceived the immense labor of the project and the coördinatedeffort required. The necessity in itself of dragging hither fromBowenville all of the supplies, the material, the huge machines, wasoverwhelming. The responsibility of combining scientific knowledge andraw industry to an exact result struck her as prodigious. The handlingof hundreds of subordinate workmen and assistants of various gradesand skill demanded exceptional ability, understanding, will andgeneralship. Yet these things the man at her side, Steele Weir, accomplished and supplied; and appeared quite calm and unmoved aboutit, as if it was all a matter of course. 

She glanced at the ground, flushing. The thought of Ed Sorenson, making only a pretense of doing anything useful and because his fatherwas rich doing nothing in reality but waste himself in viciouspractices, was in her mind. What must have the engineer believed ofher all this while when he knew Sorenson's true nature and infamousrecord? Did he suppose her a light-headed feather, indifferent toeverything except that her husband should be rich? Very likely. Therewere plenty of girls of that type. He naturally would suppose herone. 

And she could say nothing to put herself in a better light and to gainhis respect--for that she now desired greatly. She saw him as he was, a big man, a strong man, a man whose respect was to be prized. Besidehim she felt herself small and ordinary. That was all right, but shewas determined he should not believe her insignificant, shallow, unworthy, mercenary. 

While she could not explain matters openly without shaming herselfand still lowering herself in his estimation, he being only anacquaintance, yet there were ways of getting at the end. Janet couldact adroitly, like most women, when it best served the purpose. 

"Do you know, I just learned from friends of yours on Terry Creek thatyou're a public benefactor as well as an engineer, " she stated, whenthey paused on the hillside for a last look at the dam. 

"I?" he exclaimed. 

His eyes came around and found hers fixed on him. 

"I happened to stop at the Johnson ranch. They didn't say so, but Iknow they would be pleased to death if you would go to dinner theresome day. They have some fine fat chickens, if you like chicken friedor baked, and they hesitate to ask you only because they're afraidyou'll refuse. "

"Fried chicken is my weakness. Of course I'll go; at the first sparechance. "

But all the while Steele Weir's mind was eddying with wonderment. Hehad colored at mention of the Johnson ranch, as if he had been caughtwith a hand in a jam pot. And it meant only one thing: she knew of theBowenville episode. Involuntarily his eyes flashed to her left handwith which she was brushing back the hair under her hat brim. Therewas no diamond solitaire on its third finger. Surely, something hadhappened. 

"Well, I must be returning home. I just thought I'd give you a tinyhint, " said she. An odd smile rested on her lips as she spoke, forhints may carry multiple suggestions. 

"By Jove!" Weir said suddenly. 

Man of action though she knew him to be, she never anticipated hewould or could act so directly. He reached out and seized her lefthand and scanned it significantly. Then he raised his eyes. 

"What does this mean?" he asked, tapping the finger with one of hisown. "Does this mean----"

It was Janet's turn to become scarlet. She tried to smile again, butit was a wavering smile that appeared. 

"What does what mean?" she fenced. 

"That--well, that the ring is off permanently?"

"Oh, yes. "

"And that there's now a chance for me?"

Janet's eyes at that popped open very wide indeed. Meanwhile Weirstill held to the palm resting in his own. 

"You?" she breathed, faintly. 

"Me, yes. "

Presently with a gentle movement she drew her hand free. She had beenquite dumbfounded, but not so dumbfounded that she did not realizethat this new situation had requirements of its own. He appearedabsolutely sincere and resolute. 

"But I never dreamed of such a thing!" she stammered. 

"Nor I--because until now I hadn't the right. All I ask is that yougive me your friendship--and a chance--and--well, we'll see. "

"There's no reason why we shouldn't be friends, " said she. "We arealready, aren't we?"

"Yes--now. I never actually thought so before. "

"Things have changed, " she stated. And her lips closed with a firmpressure as she spoke. "Or I shouldn't have been here inspecting thedam, should I?" Again the smile flashed upon her face. "You mayconsider this a preliminary inspection to that of your high and mightydirectors, and I assure you my verdict--is that the word?--isfavorable. Now I must be going to the car. Father likes his meals ontime. "

"And when shall I see you again?"

The note of eagerness in his voice set her heart moving a bit faster. If he carried on his engineering work as he did his friendship, nowonder he got things done. 

"Why, when you wish to call, Mr. Weir. Both father and I shall bepleased to have you come any time. "

"I'll certainly avail myself of the privilege, " said he. "You mustreally go now?"

With a feeling of exaltation at this new turn of affairs he watchedher drive away from camp, a feeling that persisted during thesucceeding days. 

The three directors arrived. That was Thursday evening; and Friday andSaturday were devoted to a discussion of construction plans, inspection of the works, analysis of costs and so on. Weir found themen what he expected: quick to comprehend facts, incisive of mind, andthough of course not engineers yet able to measure results; while theyon their part were appreciative of the exceptional progress made andof his thorough command of the project. They knew the first hour thatthe right manager was in charge at last. 

Saturday afternoon Sorenson and Judge Gordon called at headquarters, by appointment, to discuss the grievance held locally against thecompany. Weir was present at the meeting. 

"As to whether the Mexican workmen who were discharged were actuallygiving a full return in work for the wages, as you maintain, gentlemen, " said Mr. Pollock, one of the directors and a corporationlawyer from New York, in reply to the visitors' statement, "that is aquestion not of opinion but of fact. "

"Fact, yes, " Judge Gordon argued. "Fact supported by the evidence ofthe three hundred workmen against that of a single man, your manager, who had just come. "

"Are not your three hundred men prejudiced witnesses?" the New Yorkerinquired, a slight smile upon his thin face. 

"No more than is Mr. Weir. "

"But Mr. Weir is the manager and consequently has the power ofdecision in such matters. "

"Not to the extent of revoking unfairly your promise, given orally, tobe sure, but still given, to employ local labor. " Sorenson was thespeaker and his heavy face wore an expression of ill-disguisedcontempt. 

"Agreed. Local labor was to be hired, " said Pollock. "But our companyisn't a philanthropic institution; it's run on strictly businessprinciples. Any agreement we made implied that local workmen shouldgive exactly what other workmen would give in work. "

"They did so, " Judge Gordon affirmed. 

"There was no trouble until this man came, " Sorenson remarked. "Isuppose he felt that he had to show his authority. "

"Ah, but there was if not trouble at any rate dissatisfaction on ourpart, " Pollock stated, tapping a finger on the table. "Constructionwasn't progressing as we knew it should, which was the very reason forgetting a new manager, one who could speed it up. But as I said, itall comes down to a question of fact. You gentlemen offer yourworkmen's avowals of industry to support your claim; Mr. Weir, on theother hand, gives us some definite records to back up his side. Herethey are for the last week the workmen from San Mateo and neighborhoodworked--his first week here; and for the succeeding weeks under themen shipped in; in material used, in cubic yards of concreteconstruction, and in percentage of work finished. Examine them if youplease. They show daily and weekly results to be just a trifle lessthan double for the corresponding time the imported workmen have beenhere. In other words, the new men have, while shortening the time ofcompletion, given twice as much work for exactly the same wage paidyour Mexicans. In other words, too, your local laborers cancelled ouragreement by their own incompetence. "

"Your manager could easily have doctored those records, " Sorensonstated, coldly. 

"You scarcely mean that, sir, " Pollock instantly replied icily, hisamiability vanishing. 

"Come, Judge, we may as well go, I think. We're appealing to aprejudiced court. " And Sorenson arose. 

"Our decision to view the matter like Mr. Weir is because his positionis sustained by these facts, not because we're prejudiced, as youinsinuate. But I may add that it would not be strange if we wereprejudiced, as we've become convinced that you gentlemen haven't beensincere in your attitude towards our company and if anything arestrongly hostile. Any one may be deceived for a time, and we were, butnot permanently. You would have done much better to have recognizedthat we have a perfect right to build this project on land that webought and with water that we acquired. For it will be built in anycase and in spite of such local opposition as may be made. " Pollockflicked the ash from his cigar with a careful finger. "That is a merepiece of information or a declaration of war, whichever way you wishto take it. "

"I told you we were wasting our time coming here, " the cattleman saidto his companion. 

"Good day, gentlemen, " said Judge Gordon, politely. 

And the pair went out to Sorenson's machine. 

Shortly after, the two other directors left to catch a train atBowenville, Pollock planning to stay with Weir to formulate a reportduring the next day or two for presentation to the entire directorateat its next meeting. Sorenson caught a glimpse of the car whirlingthrough town, with Weir at the wheel, who with Pollock accompanied thedeparting men that certain unsettled points might be discussed up tothe last moment. 

As Weir and Pollock were returning, the latter eyed the engineer andlaughed. 

"You've evidently brushed these fellows', Sorenson's and Gordon's, furthe wrong way to please them. But they'll probably leave us alone fromnow on. "

"They'll not leave me alone. "

"Eh? How's that?"

"Well, I have, as it happens, a little trouble with them on my ownhook. A private matter antedating the building of the dam. They'reafter me. I had to put a piece of lead into a fellow who tried to killme from the dark one night. I speak of it in case you should be toldand wonder; otherwise I should not have mentioned the thing. I'm notpopular in San Mateo, in consequence. "

"Ah, I had heard nothing of that. It interests me. You were nottouched. "

"My hat, that was all. "

"Very interesting, very interesting, indeed, " was Pollock's onlycomment. But if his tone was casual, his eyes were busy in sidelongstudy of the engineer, making a new appraisal and drawing freshconclusions. 

Meanwhile several knots were being tied in the web of circumstance. Sorenson took his telephone and conversed briefly with Vorse, passingthe information that he had just seen the three directors leaving forthe east. So they were out of the way. In reply the saloon-keeperstated that he would start the whisky end of the game that evening. By the morrow, Sunday, when the camp was at rest, the workmen wouldall be "celebrating. " Burkhardt had reported the last load of"southern cattle" shipped in and driven on the range the previousevening--a seemingly innocent statement that Sorenson understoodperfectly. Up in the hills, safely hidden in the timber, lay the fiftymen brought from Mexico to make the assault on the dam the next night, men whose instruments of destruction would be fire and dynamite. Twenty-four hours more would bring the moment of action. 

Ignorant of all this Ed Sorenson had been forming a little individualscheme that would promote his own affairs, chief of which was to winJanet Hosmer. Drinking heavily ever since his rebuff, he had sunk intoa condition of evil determination and recklessness that made him fitfor any desperate act. After much meditation fed by whisky, he hadevolved a plan that would bring him success. Thereupon he had loadedhis car with a quantity of selected stuff and made a mysteriousjourney at night. 

"She'll learn I meant business, " was his frequent soliloquy. 

And while these strands were being knit into the skein Martinez wasproducing another. Quietly, carefully, persuasively, he had beenpursuing his own particular course of eliciting history for use in his"Chronicle, " as he named it, --and for another use concerning which hewas as still as death. 

That he was successful in obtaining what he had been after was madeknown to Weir about dusk that evening while he was talking withPollock in his office. But that he had not been so lucky in coveringhis tracks was likewise apparent. 

The telephone rang. Steele took down the receiver. 

"See Janet Hosmer at once, " Felipe Martinez' terrified voice came overthe wire. "She'll have it, the paper--the one you want. They'velearned I got it; they're after me now. Hammering on the door. If youdon't hurry----"

His words ceased abruptly in an anguished quaver. At the same timeWeir heard carried to him the sound of a crash as of a door smashed. Excusing himself hurriedly, Steele Weir seized his holster from a nailand buckled on the belt. Then snatching his hat, he ran outside thebuilding to his car. 

"Now, who is he gunning for?" Pollock asked himself aloud, "I ratherwish he had invited me along. "

But neither he nor Weir himself, nor any soul in San Mateo, knew thatat last the furious torrent of events had burst upon the community. Weir sensed something. But Sorenson brooding on the morrow thought themoment had not yet come. His son was occupied with his own treacherousscheme. Even Vorse and Burkhardt smashing their way into Martinez'office saw nothing beyond the immediate necessity. Yet the flood wasbearing down on all. 

CHAPTER XIV

OLD SAUREZ' DEPOSITION

In order to understand why Vorse and Burkhardt were attackingMartinez' office it is necessary to trace the lawyer's movements andthe incidents which precipitated that act. Martinez had, as stated, not been idle. Following the clue obtained from the woman who hadworked in the elder Weir's household, he visited the old Mexican namedas having been used as roustabout by Vorse in early days. This was oldSaurez, whom he knew. The wrinkled old fellow seldom came to town now, spending most of the time sitting against the sunny side of his son'shouse on Pina Creek, twenty miles south, where he lived. 

Martinez in the ten days that had elapsed since informing Weir he hadlearned of Saurez' possible knowledge of the past had proceeded tomake himself agreeable to the gray-headed old man. He had explainedhis "history. " He exercised all the arts of graciousness and flattery. Beginning at the present he worked back through the past to thekilling of Jim Dent and the flight of Joseph Weir, extracting tales ofearly fights, raids, accidents, big storms, violent deaths andkillings, making elaborate notes, winning the narrator's confidenceand gradually drawing forth the facts he really sought. 

Out of all the rambling talk and vague accounts of the Dent and Weiraffair Martinez was able to piece together the fragments in a clearstatement. This was that Saurez had seen Weir and Dent in Vorse'ssaloon. The pair had gambled for a time with Vorse, Burkhardt (at thattime sheriff), Sorenson and Judge Gordon. After losing for a time Weirrefused to continue in the poker game, although he was drunk. Dentplayed on notwithstanding Weir's urgence to desist; he had alreadylost all his money and began staking his cattle and finally his ranch. At this stage Weir had gone to sleep at another table, with his headon his arms. Vorse had locked the front door to keep out visitorsduring the big game. But the back door remained open for air. 

Saurez had busied himself cleaning the bar. All at once he saw theplayers spring up in their game, Dent talking angrily about cheating, marked cards and so on. Then the guns came out when he pointed at acard that was marked--for it had been marked with pinpricks as Saurezsaw later on examining the deck, which Dent had perceived in spite ofthe whisky in him. And Sorenson and Vorse had both shot him where hestood. Yes, shootings were not uncommon. Every one but he, Saurez, hadlikely forgotten all about the matter. That was long ago. 

Afterwards Vorse had sent the Mexican away for something or other, with an injunction to keep his mouth closed. As said, speaking of itnow made no difference, though he expected Martinez to keep hispromise to publish none of the stories while he was still alive; thatwas agreed. When the Mexican had left the saloon Weir was yetsleeping, having only raised his head at the pistol shots to staredrunkenly and then relapse. What occurred afterwards Saurez did notknow. Weir left the country. Dent was buried, the story being toldthat he had committed suicide. Every one believed it: had he not losthis ranch at poker? That was the end of the business. Other affairshappened and it was forgotten. 

On this Saturday Martinez had persuaded Saurez to accompany him to SanMateo. It would be necessary to sign the stories, he explainedlightly, to give them proper weight and in order that when the bookwas published after Saurez' death they would be seen to be trueaccounts, with Saurez' picture that a photographer would makeappearing in the middle. He, Saurez, would be famous, and his sons andgrandsons would have copies of the book in their houses to showvisitors and the priest. Ah, it would be well to have the priestwitness Saurez' signature, then sceptical people would know indeedthat the stories were Saurez' own accounts. So on and so on. 

The matter required infinite precautions, patience, skill on thelawyer's part. He had prepared two or three dozen depositions ofevents, as a husk for the real kernel. With Saurez in his office atlast he telephoned the priest to call at once and unostentatiouslycaught on the street four other Mexicans of the better class, bringingthem in. When the priest arrived he closed the door and explained hisdesire they should act as witnesses to Saurez' statements. He hadalready solicited the _padre's_ advice as to the history; the othersall had heard of it; he gave them a number of the most harmlessdepositions to read; and set Saurez to work making his mark on therest of the papers. During the reading and the accompanying livelydiscussion of the witnesses, he had them pause to witness Saurez' markwith their own names in the places provided. About the tenthdeposition when their attention was confused and flagging he slippedthe account concerning Weir and Dent, a many-paged attestation, uponthe table, so folded that nothing but the signing space was visible. It was the critical instant for Martinez; his thin body was morenervous than ever, his eyes brighter and more restless. But at lastthe ordeal was over. 

Saurez' heavy black cross was at the bottom of the importantdeposition, the priest and the other four men had appended theirnames, and all that remained to do was for Martinez to fill out theacknowledgment and affix his seal. He whisked the document behind hisback and called attention to a humorous episode in a paper one of themen still held, starting a laugh. Then he suggested they rest andopened a bottle of wine, over which the others congratulated Saurezand Martinez and predicted a wonderful fame for the "Chronicle. "Finally the lawyer perceived, as he said, that Saurez was weary. Anyway, it was supper-time. The remaining papers could be signedanother day. 

The witnesses departed, much pleased with the affair. 

"Walk up and down outside for a little time while I straighten thesheets, then we'll go eat and afterwards I'll drive you home to bed, "the attorney said. "The fresh air will give you an appetite. Behold, you're already becoming a famous man! I shall preserve these documentssafely as they are tremendously important to our town, our state, ourcountry!" And a grandiloquent gesture accompanied the words. "Comeback in a little while, my friend, then we'll see how much food youcan hide away. "

Saurez much gratified at these words and at everything went outslowly, for he was troubled by rheumatism. The instant his backdisappeared Martinez sprang to the table, swiftly filled out theacknowledgment of the old man's signature to the Weir document, clapped the page under the seal and pressed home the stamp. Thenpushing the folded statement into an envelope and that into hispocket, he leaned back with a sigh of exhaustion. The thing wasaccomplished at last, but the strain had been great. Weir's command tosecure evidence had been obeyed. Only the promise to await Saurez'death, troubled Martinez, and with a convenient sophistry he decidedthat an agreement not to print the narrative in a book did not extendto using it in court. Weir would be delighted--it was a famous coup. 

How long Martinez sat reveling in this well-earned satisfaction he wasunaware, until with a start he glanced at his watch. Three-quarters ofan hour had passed. He went out to look for Saurez. But he was not insight and though several persons had seen him they could not say wherehe had gone. Martinez went again into his office. When anotherhalf-hour had drifted by he decided the old man had encounteredfriends and either caught a ride home or gone with one to supper. SoMartinez proceeded to his own meal. 

Yet he was pervaded by an unaccountable uneasiness. The sun had set ina bank of clouds and night was not far off. He made another search forthe old Mexican, inquiring here and there, until he was informed byone that he had seen Saurez in Vorse's saloon talking with Vorse andsipping a glass of brandy. That was half an hour before. A chill offear spread over the lawyer's skin. 

Determined, however, to learn the worst, he stole to the saloon andpeered over the slatted door. The Mexican bar-keeper was wiping aglass; Vorse was not in sight; and--ha! there was Saurez himselfdrowsing by a table. Martinez slipped in and made his way to therear. 

"Come; time to go home, " he said softly, giving the old Mexican'sshoulder a shake. This did not arouse the sleeper, so he added forceto his hand, at which the other sagged forward limply. 

Martinez jumped back. Next he stood quite still, staring. Then heapproached and lifting the drooping head, gazed at the wrinkled faceand glazed eyes. 

"Miguel, come here!" he exclaimed, anxiously. "Saurez is dead. "

"Dead!" The bar-keeper ran to the spot, eyes large with alarm andexcitement. "Dios, I thought him asleep! See, there is the glass inwhich I gave him brandy at Señor Vorse's order. The old one said hehad come in to pay a little visit to his old employer and have a chat. They talked for some time. "

"Was Vorse asking him questions?"

"Yes. I think Saurez was telling him how he happened to be in town. Ipaid little attention to them, however. After a while I glanced up andsaw Vorse standing by him. They were not talking. Then Vorse came awayand said the old man had fallen asleep, and he went out to supper. "

Martinez again lifted the head and darted glances over the dead man'sbreast. There were no wounds, but on the shriveled brown throat he sawwhat might have been a thumb-mark. He could not be sure, yet that washis guess. 

"He was an old man, " Miguel remarked. 

"Yes. You should notify his son and also the undertaker, so the bodycan be taken care of. I'll telephone the latter too when I reach myoffice. "

This Martinez did, informing Saurez's family that the old man haddied while apparently asleep at Vorse's, and expressed his sympathyand sorrow. 

One feature of the case he instantly perceived; he was released fromany obligation to keep silent regarding the old man's declaration. Fortunate was he to have obtained it before Vorse had got wind of hispurpose. At the thought of Vorse he arose and locked both front andback doors of the building, pulled down the window shades and turnedout the light. 

It was almost dark by now. In the darkness he felt safer. Any onepassing would suppose him away. Perhaps he should spend the nightelsewhere--at the dam, for instance. Again the same shudder shook hisframe that he had experienced on seeing the mark on Saurez' throat. Vorse had killed the old Mexican, of that he was convinced. With histongue made garrulous by brandy and by the presence of his oldemployer the old man had doubtless related everything that occurredbetween him and Martinez; and the vulture-like, bald-headedsaloon-keeper, recognizing that he had been unconsciously betrayed hadimmediately acted to close this witness' lips forever against a secondutterance. 

Martinez himself was in danger. The perspiration dampened his face ashe realized that as far as he was concerned the die was cast. He mustfling in his fortunes with Weir to the utmost. He would first stand indefense on his right as a lawyer to secure evidence for a client, butif this failed--and what rights would Vorse halt for?--he must dependupon the paper. Once they had that, they would speedily put him out ofthe way as they had done Saurez. But if they had it not, they would atleast hesitate to wreak their vengeance until they could get it intotheir possession. He must place it in Weir's hands at once, then ifquestioned refuse to inform them of its whereabouts. Perhaps theywould try to seize it some time this night. He stood up, lighted thelamp, saw that all was well in the office and took his hat. 

A peremptory knock sounded on the door of the rear room. 

"Open up there, Martinez, " a voice commanded. 

He stole thither, listened. 

"Who is it?" he asked. 

"Never mind. Open this door or I'll pull it down, " came in hoarsetones he recognized as Burkhardt's. The man, or men, outside hadchosen the rear to force an entrance if necessary, where there wouldbe no spectators. "Jerk it open quick, " Burkhardt continued savagely. "We want you. " Then again, "We knew you were there, though you keptthe place dark. Move lively before I use this ax. "

Never did Martinez' mind work more rapidly. Likewise his eyes dartedeverywhere in search of the object he needed. Then he glided to adecrepit arm-chair and turning it over stuffed the document in a rentin its padded seat, out of sight underneath. Next he filled hispockets with other papers signed by Saurez. Last, he hastily tore openthe little telephone book and ran a forefinger down the H's. 

"Doctor Hosmer's, hurry, " he exclaimed. "Number F28. "

Blows were already sounding on the rear door, but the lock was strongand resisted. Of all the persons he knew Janet Hosmer was the only onehe could trust to keep her word. And he dare not wait until Weir couldcome. 

"Is this you, Janet? Martinez talking, " he said, when he heard heranswer. "Listen. I'm at my office; men are trying to break in to geta paper valuable for Mr. Weir's defense. They must not get it. He's tobe arrested and tried for murder of the man he killed. You and I knowhe's innocent. This is a life and death matter. The paper is hidden inthe old chair. The men are breaking down the door. I'll get them awaylong enough for you to come and obtain it. Give it to Weir--at once, to-night, immediately. Promise me you will, promise! My own lifeprobably hangs on it. Return to your house and stay for half an hourand if he hasn't arrived by that time, go to the dam. Thank you, thankyou--from my heart! Start now. "

The words had tumbled out in an agitated stream, occupying but a fewseconds. The panels were splintering in the door now, as the axsmashed a way through. Martinez had no need to look up Weir's number;and it was in a strain of terror and excitement that he waited for theconnection. 

"See Janet Hosmer at once, " he shot at the engineer, followed by therest of the warning already quoted which had so electrifying an effectupon Steele Weir. 

But the words had broken off abruptly. For as the door crashed off itshinges Martinez dropped the telephone receiver and darted for thefront entrance, shooting back the bolt and flinging it open. He almostplunged into Vorse who was on guard there. 

"Stand still, " the man ordered. And Martinez kept the spot as ifcongealed, for in the saloon-keeper's hand was a revolver with anexceedingly large muzzle. 

Burkhardt burst in, ax still in hand, eyes bloodshot with rage. Vorseturned and closed the front door. Then he glanced over the lawyer'stable and ran a hand into his inside coat pocket bulging withdocuments. He glanced through one or two. 

"Here's what we're after, " said he. "We'll take him to my place wherewe can quietly settle the matter. " His eyes rested on the Mexican withominous meaning. 

"Come along, you snake, " Burkhardt growled, seizing their prisoner'sarm. "Out the back way--and keep your mouth shut. Don't try to make abreak of any kind, if you know what's best for you. "

Martinez' yellow skin was almost white. 

"But, gentlemen, what does this all mean?" he began, endeavoring topull back. 

"You'll learn soon enough. "

"Step right along, " Vorse added. "Take him away, Burkhardt, then I'llblow out this light. "

With no further word Martinez accompanied his captors into the gloomof the night. They moved in silence through the dark space behind therow of store buildings. The lawyer felt that at least the way wasclear for Janet Hosmer. 

CHAPTER XV

THE MASK DROPPED

When Janet Hosmer, startled by Felipe Martinez' agitated appeal, turned from the telephone, her single thought was to carry out on theinstant his fervid injunction. Something aimed at the engineer and thelawyer was in movement, a plot for the former's arrest and thedestruction of evidence necessary to his defense, according toMartinez' quick hurried words; and the Mexican now sought her aid, asshe was the only one within reach whom he could trust. That he mustcall to her showed the desperate nature of the exigency--and he hadsaid lives were at stake!

Haste was the imperative need. As her father was absent, she summonedthe Mexican girl from the kitchen, for instinct advised the wisdom ofhaving a companion on this errand; and the two of them, bare-headedand walking fast, set out for the house. Dusk was just thickening tonight. No stars were visible. A warm moistness in the air forewarnedof rain from the blanket of clouds that had spread at sunset along thepeaks. Indeed, a few fine globules of water touched their faces asthey came into the main street and hurried along. 

Neither girl had observed the automobile, unlighted and moving slowly, that approached the Hosmer house as they emerged. Apparently thedriver perceiving them against the lamplight of the doorway and notingtheir departure thought better of bringing the car to a halt, for hekept the machine in motion and as quietly as possible trailed the pairby glimpses of their figures flitting before an occasional illuminatedwindow. When Janet and her companion turned into the main street wherethe stores were lighted his task became easier. 

The street was peaceful. Janet saw no evidence of the violence ordanger indicated by the Mexican lawyer's declaration, but she was toosensible to imagine on that account that peril did not exist. The townwas not aware of what had occurred, that was all, --not yet. The chiefactors in the conspiracy were still moving stealthily against theirintended victims; they had pounced on Martinez and once they hadseized the evidence they sought they would arrest Weir. Afterwards thepeople, as she guessed the matter, would be aroused to create a strongsentiment against the helpless men. It was an atrocious business. 

But as yet things were in a lull--and it was during this pause, brief, critical, that Martinez expected her to act. That much she had graspedfrom his hurried words. She reached his office and halted to listen. No gleam came from the building, nor from the low structure on eitherside, and across the way all was dark--dark as it had been that nightwhen the assassin's shot had been fired at Steele Weir. Repressing ashudder, she bade the Mexican girl follow her, groped for the doorknob, found it and pushed the door open. 

Martinez had spoken of men forcing an entrance, so it must have beenat the rear. Inside all was pitchy black. 

"Juanita, you have a match in your pocket, haven't you?" she demanded, anxiously. 

"Yes, Miss Janet. "

"Strike it, then. "

In the pent stillness of the dark office Janet could hear the Mexicangirl fumbling in the pocket of her gingham dress. There came ascratching sound and a tiny flame. 

"Be careful of it, " she warned. "Now give it to me. And close thedoor. "

Janet lighted the smoky lamp resting on the table, next took it up inher hand. A few papers had fallen upon the floor. The room was stillstrong with fresh cigarette smoke. Martinez could not have been gonemore than five minutes. 

And in another five minutes' time too Martinez' captors might be backagain!

Holding the lamp aloft she peered about for an old chair, her heartbeating rapidly, her lips compressed. But all the chairs, the three orfour in the room, were old. Her eyes encountered the Mexican girlstaring open-mouthed and scared. 

"Take the lamp and keep by me, " Janet ordered. "Don't upset it. Whatare you shaking for, you ninny?"

"I can't help it--and you're so white, " the other whimpered. 

"Never you mind me; do as I say. "

Janet swiftly went from one chair to another, turning them about, upside down, all ways. No paper was hidden in or under any one ofthem, or indeed was there space capable of holding a document. At lastshe gave up, gazing about in dismay, dread, tears of vexation andanxiety almost rising to her lids. Only one conclusion was to bedrawn: the men who had seized the lawyer had found the paper in spiteof his precaution. 

She examined the chairs a second time feverishly, for time wasflying. 

"I can't find it, Juanita, the paper he telephoned me to come andget, " she exclaimed. 

"Maybe it's in there where he sleeps. " And the Mexican girl pointed atthe inner door standing barely ajar. 

"We'll see. "

Janet led the way within. There was Martinez' living- and sleeping-room. The furnishings comprised a bed, an old scratched bureau, a standwith wash-bowl, a red and black Navajo blanket on the floor, a trunk, a stool and a dilapidated stuffed chair--just such a chair as a papercould be hidden in. That into this room the lawyer's assailants hadburst their way was apparent from the splintered door hanging from onehinge at the rear. 

Beckoning Juanita to bring the lamp, Janet ran to the arm-chair. 

"Ah, here it is!" she cried, when she had turned the piece offurniture over and inserted her hand in the rent. "It wasn't found, after all! Come away now. "

Relief and exultation replaced her depression of the moment before. She had succeeded; she had helped the lawyer outwit his enemies; shemust now return home to await Steele Weir's arrival, or if he failedin that then go to the dam. 

In the outer room she bade the Mexican girl place the lamp on thetable once more and blow it out. This was done. They groped forward tothe door. 

"Follow me out quietly, Juanita, " Janet said. "Only Mr. Martinez knowswe've been here, and Mr. Weir, the engineer. See, I'm trusting you. This is a very important paper for Mr. Weir, and other men are tryingto keep it out of his hands. So you must say nothing to any one aboutour being here. "

Juanita assented in a whisper. Janet thereupon opened the door andthe pair stepped forth. A faint hissing sound directly before themstartled both. But the American girl immediately recognized it forwhat it was, the faint murmur of an automobile engine. 

She quietly closed the office door, caught her companion's arm to leadher away. 

"Don't talk, " she whispered in her ear. 

At the same instant the beam of an electric hand torch flashed intheir eyes, blinding them. Then as quickly the light was extinguishedand a heavy blanket was flung over Janet's head. Her cry was chokedoff, but not that of the Mexican girl who had been struck by thecorner of the cloth and who heard her mistress struggling in the armsof the man who had seized her. The sound of the struggle moved towardsthe car and then Juanita, paralyzed by fright, was stunned by a suddenroar of the exhaust, a grind of gears, and a rush in the darkness. Theautomobile had gone, carrying off Janet Hosmer a muffled prisoner. Juanita regaining use of her legs fled for Doctor Hosmer's unmindfulof the mist against her face. 

Janet's sensation had been that of strangulation and terror. In thethick folds of the blanket, held and lifted by strong arms, all shecould offer in the way of resistance was futile kicks. She had beenjammed into the automobile seat and firmly kept there by an embracewhile the car was being started, which did not relax as the machinegathered speed. For some minutes this lasted, while she strainedpainfully for breath, and then she perceived the car was stopping. 

Her terror increased. What now would happen? These men afteroverpowering Felipe Martinez had abducted her in their determinationto possess themselves of the paper. Finding it in her hand--for shestill clutched it--what then? Would they kill her?

The car was now completely at rest. The arm was withdrawn from abouther; hands gripped her hands and forced them together; a handkerchiefwas tightly knotted about her wrists. Afterwards her ankles were boundby a strap. Then the blanket was lifted from her form and head and shegasped in again pure night air. 

"Here's a gag, " said the man at her side. "Keep quiet and I'll not useit; if you open your mouth to make a sound, I shall. It's up to you. "And with the hoarse threat she caught the heavy sickening odor ofwhiskey on the speaker's breath. 

"You, Ed Sorenson! You've dared to do this!" she exclaimed, fearvanishing in anger. 

"Yes, sweetheart, " came with a mocking accent. 

"Untie me this minute and let me out!"

"Oh, no. You've got the wrong line on this little game. We're goingfor a ride, just you and me, as lovers should. "

Janet began to think fast. 

"How did you know I was in Mr. Martinez' office?" she demanded. 

"Because I saw you go in, little one. I was just pulling up at yourdoor to coax you out when I saw you and the Mexican wench appear. So Ifollowed along. Saved me the bother of telling you your father hadbeen hurt in an accident. He's chasing off somewhere thirty miles fromtown on a 'false alarm' call to attend a dying man. Sorry I had to usethe blanket; sorry I have to keep your naughty little hands and feettied up. But it's the only way. After we're married, you'll forget allabout it in loving me. "

So this was the face of the matter. Not the paper she gripped, butshe herself was his object. His abduction of her had nothing to dowith Martinez' affair; he knew nothing of the larger plot; and forthat reason she experienced a degree of relief. 

"I'll never marry you, be certain of that, " said she, recurring to hisstatement. "If anything had been needed to settle that point, what youhave done now would be enough. You shall pay for this atrocioustreatment. Untie my hands. "

"Oh, no. We're starting on. "

"Your father as well as mine shall know of this. "

"I think not, dearie. We're going up into the hills where I've a nicelittle cabin fixed up. And we'll stay there awhile. And then when wecome back, you'll not do any talking. On the contrary, you'll beanxious to marry me--you'll be begging me to marry you. Of course!People know we're engaged, and they'll know you've been away with mefor two or three days. Do you think they'll listen to any story aboutmy carrying you off against your will? They'll wink when they hear it. Yes, you'll be ready to marry me all right, all right, when we comeback to San Mateo. "

Janet's blood ran cold at this heartless, black plan to ensnare herinto marriage. 

"Ed, you would never do a thing like that, " she pleaded. "You're justtrying to scare me with a joke. Be a good fellow and untie my handsand take me home. "

"No joke about this; straight business. I told you you should marryme----"

"You're drunk or mad!" she burst out, terrified. 

"Neither; perfectly calm. But I'm not the fellow to be tossed over ata whim. I'm holding you to your word, that's all. You'll change yourmind back as it was by to-morrow; you'll be crazy to have me as ahusband then. I won't have to tie your hands and feet to keep you atmy side when we come riding home to go to the minister's. Now we'vehad our little talk and understand each other; and it's beginning todrizzle. Time to start for our little cabin. The less fuss you make, the pleasanter it will be for both of us. "

He set the gears and the car started forward once more. A sensation ofbeing under the paws of a beast, odious and fetid, savage andpitiless, overwhelmed her. That this was no trick of a moment but acalculated scheme to abase and possess her she now realized with asort of dull horror. And on top of all he was, despite his denial, partly drunk. 

Through the terror of her situation two thoughts now continued tocourse like fiery threads--one a hope, one a purpose. The formerrested on Juanita, whom in his inflamed ferocity of intention, the manseemed to have forgotten--on Juanita and Steele Weir, "Cold Steel"Weir; and this failing, there remained the latter, a set idea to killherself before this brute at her side worked his will. Somehow shecould and would kill herself. Somehow she would find the means to freeher hands and the instrument to pierce her heart. 

Sorenson had switched on his lights. He drove the car through the dampdarkness at headlong speed along the trail that leaped from the gloomto meet them and vanished behind. At the end of a quarter of an hourhe swung into a canyon; and Janet perceived they were ascending TerryCreek. He stopped the car anew. 

"I'll just take no chances with you, " he exclaimed. "We have to passyour friends, the Johnsons, you know. Had to take my stuff up here inthe middle of the night--up one night and back the next--and mightystill too, so that they wouldn't suspicion I was fixing a littlebower for you. "

He bound a cloth over her mouth and again flung the blanket over herhead. Janet struggled fiercely for a moment, but finally sank backchoking and half in a faint. She was barely conscious of the car'sclimbing again. Though when passing the ranch house the man drove withevery care for silence, she was not aware of the fact. Her breath, mind, soul, were stifled. She seemed transfixed in a hideousnightmare. 

At length her lips and head were released. But her hands and feet werenumb. Still feeling as if she were in some dreadful dream she saw thebeam of the headlights picking out the winding trail, flashing ontrees by the wayside, shining on wet rocks, heard the chatter of thecreek over stones and the labor of the engine. 

The road was less plain, a mere track now, and steeper. They wereclimbing, climbing up the mountain side, up into the heavier timber, up into one of the "parks" among the peaks. Johnson's ranch was milesbehind and far below. Occasionally billows of fog swathed them in wetfolds that sent a chill to Janet's bones. 

Sorenson held his watch down to the driver's light. 

"Ten o'clock; we're making good time. Must give the engine adrink--and take one myself. "

He descended to the creek with a bucket, bringing back water to fillthe steaming radiator. Afterwards, standing in the light of the car'slamps, he tilted a flask to his lips and drank deep. 

"Not far now; three or four miles. But it's slow going. Have to makeit on 'low', " said he, swinging himself up into his place. 

Janet held her face turned away. She was thinking of Juanita andSteele Weir. Had the girl gone home again? Or, terrified, had she runto her own home and said nothing? Had the engineer come and waited andlearning nothing at last returned to the dam? Despair filled herbreast. Even should the Mexican girl have apprised him of thekidnapping, how should he know where to follow? And in the solitude ofthe wet dark mountains all about her hope died. 

She began desperately to tug against the handkerchief binding herwrists. 

Suddenly the going became easier and she felt rather than saw that thetrees had thinned. A flash of the car lamps at a curve in the trailshowed a great glistening wall of rock towering overhead, then thiswas passed and the way appeared to lead into a grassy open space. Adark shape beside the road loomed into view--a cabin by a clump ofpine trees. Sorenson brought the car to a stop a few yards from thehouse. 

"Here at last, " he announced, springing down. 

He unstrapped her feet, bade her get out. 

"I make a last appeal to your decency and manhood--if you haveeither, " she said, sitting motionless. 

"Rot, " he answered. Half dragging her, half lifting her, he removedher from the machine. Slipping a hand within her arm he led her insidethe log house. 

"Sit there, " he ordered. 

Janet dropped upon the seat, a rude plank bench against the wallfarthest from the door. Indeed, fatigue and the numbness of her limbsrendered her incapable of standing. 

"When I've touched off this fire and set out some grub, then I'lluntie your hands, " he continued. "A snug little cabin, eh? Just theplace for us, what? See all the stuff I've brought up here to make youwarm and happy and comfortable. Regular nest. Lot of work on my part, I want to say. "

He touched a match to the wood already laid in the fireplace, flungoff his rain coat and stood to warm his hands at the blaze. Lighting acigarette, he began placing from a box of supplies plates and food onthe table in the middle of the room, but paused to reproduce hisflask. With a sardonic grin he lifted the bottle, bowed to Janet anddrank the liquor neat. When he had finished, he turned the bottleupside down to show it was empty, then tossed it into a corner. Againhe fixed his drunken, mocking smile upon her. 

"Can't preach to me about booze here, can you, honey?" he said. "Oughtto take a swallow yourself; warm you up. I have plenty. Guess I betteruntie your hands now. " He advanced towards her, swaying slightly. "You're going to love me from this time on, ain't you, girlie?" Heuntied the handkerchief and dropped it at his feet. "No nonsense nowabout trying to get away; I'll rope you for good if you try to startanything. Hello, what's that?"

"No; give it to me!" she cried, in alarm as he pulled the foldedsheets of paper from her stiffened fingers. 

"Something I ought to see, maybe. " Then he added harshly, "Sit down, if you don't care to have me teach you a thing or two. I'm masterhere. "

He stepped to the table and drawing a box beside him settled upon it, pulled the candle-stick nearer and began to read the document. Janetglanced swiftly about the room for a weapon. Escape past him she couldnot, for by a single spring he could bar the way; but could she layhand on a stick of wood she might fight her way out. None was nearerthan the fire, and again he could interpose. 

He read on and on, with a darkening brow and an evil glint showing inhis eyes. Page by page he perused Saurez' deposition until he reachedthe end. Then he got to his feet, shaking the paper at her head. 

"You were in on this, " he snarled. "This is what you were in Martinez'office to get. You're wise to this cursed scheme to help Weir make myfather and Vorse and Burkhardt and Judge Gordon out a gang ofswindlers. So they trimmed _his_ father of something--at least I fancythey did, and I hope to God they did, the coward! And you were in withthem! You're not quite the little white angel you'd have peoplebelieve, are you? Not quite so innocent and simple as you've made methink, anyway. Well, I'll square all that. That slippery snake, Martinez, I'll twist his neck the minute I get back to town. I'll beta thousand it was framed up to use this when Weir was arrested--buthe'll never use it now!"

He glared at the girl with a face distorted by rage. 

"We'll just burn it here and now, " he continued. "Then we'll be sureit won't be used. "

Janet gripped her hands tightly, while her lips opened to utter a wildprotest at this desecration. What the document contained she did notyet know, except that it was evidence that fixed upon the men namedguilt for some past deed in which Weir had suffered and which wouldbring them to account. But something more than protest was needed, shesaw in a flash, to deflect the man from his purpose and save thesheets from the flame. 

She shut her lips for an instant to choke the cry, then said with anassumption of unconcern:

"Go ahead. I didn't want your father to see it, in any case. "

The paper had almost reached the candle, but the hand that held itpaused. Sorenson stared at it, and from it to her. At last a malignantcurl of his lips uncovered his teeth. 

"Oh, you didn't want him to see it, " he sneered. "If that's so, I'lljust save it. He'll be interested in reading what your friends haveprepared to destroy his good name and reputation. "

He folded the document and slipped it into his inner coat pocket. Thenhe walked towards her. At the look on his face Janet sprang to herfeet. 

"I've changed my mind about the marriage matter, just as you did, " hesaid. "I agree with you now; there won't be any marriage. But I'llhave your arms about my neck just the same. "

And he seized her wrist. 

"Let me go, let----" The words ceased on her lips. 

Her eyes were riveted on the cabin door; she scarcely felt the man'sloathsome touch on her arm. How had the door come unlatched? And wasit only the wind that slowly moved it open?

CHAPTER XVI

WEIR TAKES UP THE HUNT

On leaving the construction camp Steele Weir had whirled away down theriver road for San Mateo with a feeling both of satisfaction and ofenmity--satisfaction at Martinez' success in at last having securedthe evidence ardently desired, as betokened by his words; enmity atwhoever was laying violent hands on the lawyer. Unfortunately when yethalf a mile from town his car suffered one of the common misadventuresof automobiles:--ping-g-g! sang a tire in a shrill dying whine. 

Weir did not stop to change and inflate the tube, but pushed ahead onhis mission though at slackened speed. He brought his car to restbefore Doctor Hosmer's house. The windows were lighted, yet at hisknock there was no response; so brushing conventionalities aside heentered and called Janet's name. Only echoes and a following silencegreeted his call. 

Doubtful whether to remain awaiting the girl's return or go at once toMartinez' office in the hope of still finding her, he finally chosethe latter course leaving his car where it stood and proceeding onfoot, as a result of which he passed in the darkness Juanita hurryinghome in a fright. A bad choice and valuable time lost, he afterwardsdiscovered. At Martinez' office he stepped inside, called the lawyerby name, called Janet Hosmer, stood for a little while in the blackroom harkening and thinking, then went forth into the street. 

This time chance fell his way. He had but come out when he heardfootsteps and two men in low-toned talk as they approached; and hewithdrew further into the concealing darkness of the street. The newvisitors, striking matches at the entrance, walked inside. The menwere Vorse and Burkhardt. 

"If you had been here, we could have nailed him at once as soon as Ihad Saurez' story, " the former said. "Martinez had half an hour andmore to get the thing into somebody else's hands. "

"Well, I was looking after those men up in the hills, " was the growledanswer. "Had to feed 'em and have 'em ready for to-morrow night. If wedon't find the document here, we'll screw its hiding-place out of thatdirty greaser if we have to use a cord on his head Indian-fashion. Anyway it ought to be about this office. Martinez didn't know you hadlearned about it from Saurez. He'd never let go a paper like thatuntil he had to. "

"I think you're right there, " Vorse said. "He'd want to sell it forall it was worth. Better shut and lock the door while we're searching. Don't care to have any of his friends sticking in their heads whilewe're here. "

Burkhardt, who had lighted the lamp, now closed the door, cutting offso far as Steele Weir was concerned both a view of the men and theirconversation. However he had learned if not enough, at leastconsiderable. They had not yet gained possession of the paper. Theyknew nothing of Janet's part in the affair. They had so far notsucceeded in unlocking Martinez' lips, but undoubtedly they would beable to wring from the lawyer when they went about it the real truthregarding the document. Very likely Martinez had anticipated that, hadknown his powers were such as not to be greatly able to resistphysical torture and had planned to get the evidence into theengineer's hands before he should be subjected to pains of the flesh. That would be remembered to his credit, along with all the rest. WhereMartinez was being held prisoner was the additional information Weirshould have liked to glean before the door was shut. 

Postponing for the time the hunt along this line, he returned to theHosmer dwelling. In answer to his knock and call on this visit thetrembling Juanita appeared, immediately pouring forth a recital of thehappenings at the office as affecting her mistress. 

"You've told no one else?" he demanded. 

"No, señor. She said I was to say nothing of her being there for thepaper, and I was waiting for her father to come. But she informed meMr. Martinez and you knew she was there, so I've told you. "

"And you saw nothing of this man who cast the blanket over her headand seized her?"

"It was dark; we had just come out of the office. But--but the carsounded like Ed Sorenson's. I've heard it start from here many timeswith the same loud noise. They had quarreled, Señor Weir, and were nolonger engaged. "

"I know. Which way did he drive off?"

"East, down the lower end of the street. "

"Bring a lamp out to my car, so I can fix my tire. "

With the girl holding the light by his side the engineer worked withconcentrated energy in stripping the wheel, in inserting a new tube, replacing the tire and pumping it up. The thin drizzle glistened onhis face, but for all that it was none the less determined, stern. 

"You need not be afraid for yourself; no one but us knows you werethere, " he said to her, climbing into his machine. "Nor for MissJanet, either. I'll bring her home safely. When Dr. Hosmer returns, tell him everything. Also ask him to await our coming. Be sure and sayto him that I'll bring her home unharmed and that I advise silence inregard to the matter until I have talked with him. You will remainquiet, of course. This isn't a thing to be gossiped about. "

"No, señor. "

Away the automobile shot under the impulsion of the gas. Minutes, golden minutes, had been wasted in taking up the pursuit because ofhis going to Martinez' office and because of the flat tire. Sorensonnow would be miles away with his prisoner. 

Sweeping out of town with the car's headlights illuminating the road, Steele Weir blessed the drizzling mist that dampened the dust so as toleave a tire's imprint. Almost at once he picked up the track, for notmore than twenty or twenty-five minutes had elapsed since Sorenson'sflight and not even a horseman had since been over the way. 

Though he knew it not, the interval of time had been reduced by thestop made by the first machine, a mile or so out of town, when theabductor removed the blanket from Janet Hosmer's head to announce hisevil scheme. From the main road leading to Bowenville Weir saw thecar's trail turn aside into a mesa track pointing obliquely for TerryCreek canyon; and he suspected that Sorenson was making a long drivenorthward, skirting the mountain range and working away from therailroad-tapped region. 

Once he thought he caught a flash of light far ahead of him, but knewthis was an illusion. Through this rainy darkness no car's beam, however powerful, would show half a mile. The mist beat against hisface in a steady stream as he rushed forward in the night, his eyesimmovable on the wet twin tire-marks stamped on the road, his irongrip on the wheel, his ears filled with the steady hum of the engine. If Sorenson had driven fast, Steele Weir drove faster. 

At Terry Creek he plunged down the bank, across the water and up onthe other side without a change of gears, rocking and lurching. Onceon the smooth trail again the car seemed to stretch itself like agreyhound for the race northward. But on a sudden he brought theautomobile to an abrupt halt. The surface of the road was undisturbed;nothing had passed here. 

Swinging back again on the way he had come, Weir recrossed the creekand slowly retraced his course. Then with an exclamation ofsatisfaction he picked up the track where it turned up the canyontrail. But why was the man going to the Johnson ranch? Mystified bythis baffling procedure on Sorenson's part, he nevertheless headed upthe stream with no lessening of his purpose to overtake the other. 

At the ranch house, whose kitchen window was lighted, he stopped andleaped out. Johnson and Mary both answered his thumping knock. 

"Is Janet Hosmer here?" he questioned, while his eyes darted about thekitchen. Then he made his own reply, "I see she's not. Ed Sorensonkidnapped her to-night and drove to this canyon. Did you hear a car?"

Mary faced her father. 

"You remember I thought I heard one!" she cried. "But the sound was solow I wasn't sure, and when I went to the window I saw nothing. Ididn't hear it again. Father said it was just my imagination. "

"Where does this road lead?"

"Up into the timber and to a 'park. ' Used to be an old wood road. Sheepmen sometimes use it to take their wagons up above; sometimescattle outfits too while on round-ups. "

"Could an auto go ahead on it?"

"Yes, I guess so. By hard driving. "

"Then he's up there. "

Weir ran back to his car, jumped in. 

"Let me go with you, " Johnson shouted after him. 

"No, I can handle the fellow, " the engineer answered. And again hismachine started on. "How long ago was it that you heard him, Mary?"was his parting question. 

"'Bout fifteen minutes ago, " she cried. 

Fifteen minutes! But the girl's reckoning might be vague, and"fifteen" minutes be half an hour. At any rate, with the roadascending among the peaks Sorenson's speed would be greatlydiminished. The incline would be against him, the uneven twistingrain-washed trail would require careful driving, the rain would hamperhis sight. Yet the fellow he pursued could not be more than three orfour miles ahead at most. 

On and on Weir pressed. The mist thickened; black wet tree trunksloomed before him like ghosts and sank out of view again; the roadwound along the stream among rocks and bushes and over hillocks withall the difficult sinuosity of a serpent's track; in his earspersisted the chuckling talk of the creek, flowing in darkness exceptwhen lighted by his car's lamps as the machine plunged through a ford, as became more and more frequent with the ascent and the narrowing ofthe canyon. 

Five miles, ten miles, fifteen miles he must have come since leavingthe ranch house. His car now was high in the mountain range, runningon low gear, the engine working hard in the thin air and against thesteep grade. He was not making more than five miles an hour, hejudged, at this moment. The radiator was boiling and steaming like acauldron. But he might be sure that if his travel was slow, Sorenson'swas no better; the road was the same for the pursued as for thepursuer. 

At the end of another half hour he came around a ledge of rock, wherethe creek flowed some fifty feet below and the granite wall allowedjust room to pass in a hair-pin turn. There a light gleamed before himlike a beacon, a dim gleam of a window. It was perhaps a hundred yardsdistant. It marked the end of the trail, the end of the search. 

Here was Janet Hosmer!

And he had come in time. They could not have been here long, forSorenson's start had not been sufficient for that; the scoundrel hadnot yet recovered his breath from his hard drive, so to speak. Heprobably would imagine himself safe and so be in no haste toconsummate his vile plan of enjoying his helpless victim. 

Rage that until now had been lying cold and implacable in SteeleWeir's breast began to flame in his veins and brain. He drove his carpast the rock and off the trail upon an open grassy space, verycarefully, very quietly. Next he stopped the engine and put out thelights, then he got out, felt his gun in its holster and gazed aheadfor an instant. 

A form had passed and repassed before the window--Sorenson's figure, of course. Brute, coward, degenerate he was, and to be dealt with assuch. Not only as such, indeed, but as a wretch who had dared to touchJanet Hosmer against her will, to drag her from her home to thislonely spot by violence for his own bestial purposes. 

The blood seemed like to burst Steele Weir's heart. This sweet, honest, kind-souled, noble girl! Janet Hosmer, so bright-eyed andpure! She, who had suffered this man's hate to save Martinez'document, who had dared peril to help him, Weir! All the hunger ofheart of years, and all the stifled affection, now went out to her. Heloved her; the veil was rent from his mind and he realized the factindisputably--he loved Janet Hosmer. And the great creature of an EdSorenson had dared to seize her with brutal hands!

Weir broke into a run. By instinct he kept the trail, though once ortwice stumbling and once barely missing a collision with a tree. Whenhe reached the cabin, he dropped to a walk and crept to the window, which was without glass or frame, open to the night. Peering in heperceived Sorenson at the table reading a document, and as he watchedhe had no need to be told this was the paper that so vitally concernedhimself. 

At last Sorenson got to his feet, shaking his hand at Janet Hosmer whosat against the cabin wall and beginning to speak. Weir listened for alittle. Then he stole along the log house to find the door. 

At last his finger touched the latch. He lifted it soundlessly, assilently pushed the door ajar until there was space for him to slipin. This he did. His mouth was shut hard, his eyes watchful, his righthand was closed about the butt of his revolver still resting in theholster. 

Over Sorenson's shoulder he saw Janet Hosmer's face, pale and drawnbut with a sudden joy flaming there. If ever gratitude were written onhuman countenance, it was on hers. Gratitude--and more! Something thatsent Steele Weir's blood rushing anew through his body, with hope, with a song, with he knew not what. 

Janet suddenly jerked herself free and stepped back, her head heldhigh and proud. 

"You'll never touch me again, you coward. Look behind you, " sheexclaimed. 

Involuntarily Sorenson turned head on shoulder. The frown stilldarkened his liquor-flushed face and the sneer yet twisted his lips sothat his mustache was drawn back from his teeth. Thus he remained asif changed to stone. 

What he saw was the man he most dreaded, with a shadow of a smile onhis lips, his figure motionless, his hand ready, like an avengingNemesis from out of the night. A perceptible shudder shook the fellow. Weir it was--"Cold Steel, " whose counter-stroke against one manalready had been swift and deadly, whom nothing checked or turned orterrified, who now for a second time was plucking away the fruit ofSorenson's efforts, who probably on this occasion would shoot himoutright. 

For a moment Steele Weir regarded him in silence. But at last hespoke:

"Stand away from that lady, you skunk!"

Sorenson moved hastily aside. 

CHAPTER XVII

EARTH'S RETRIBUTION

Steele Weir crossed the cabin to Janet's side. 

"You are unhurt?" he asked, his eyes scanning her face anxiously. 

"Yes. And, oh, how glad I am you came!" she cried, low. "I knew youwould not fail me if you but learned of my plight; but it's wonderfulyou should be here so soon. I prayed every minute of my ride thatJuanita would find and tell you. "

"I couldn't come half as fast as I wished. " His smile assured andcheered her. Then as his glance fell on her wrists, still red andcreased from being bound, he exclaimed, "What's this? Let me see. " Andhe caught and lifted her hands to look. 

"He had you tied?" Weir's gaze moved away to Sorenson. 

"Yes. Hands and feet. "

"All the way? All the long ride?"

"Yes--look out!"

Janet's words, half a gasp, half a shriek, gave warning of Sorenson'smovement, though none was needed. While apparently neglecting to watchthe other, Weir had kept the man sharp in the corner of his eye. Themotion with which his hand darted to his hip and up again was a singlelightning-like sweep; and his weapon covered his enemy before thelatter's hand so much as got his revolver in grasp. 

"Drop it; drop it on the floor!" the engineer ordered. The gunclattered on the rough-hewn logs. "Now put your hands up and turn yourback this way. " Sorenson obeyed, not without his eyes speaking thedisappointed wrath and hatred his tongue dared not utter. "I shouldhave allowed you to make a full draw and then killed you, " Steele Weirwent on. "That would have been the simplest way to settle your case. Only I don't like to kill bunglers, even when they deserve it. "

He re-sheathed his own gun and strode forward, picking up the one onthe floor--a black, ugly-looking automatic. This he dropped into acoat pocket. 

"Now face about, you cur, " he commanded. "I want a good look at aman--no, I'll not call you a man--at a low-lived imitation of a manwho is such a sneaking, dirty beast that all he can do is to trap andtie up a helpless girl. I don't know yet just what I shall do withyou, but I know what I ought to do--I ought to choke the miserablelife out of you! You're not fit to live. You soil the earth andpollute the air. But you're of the same treacherous, underhanded, scoundrelly breed as your father, same yellow flesh and blood, samecrooked mind and heart, same sort of poisonous snake, and since youget it all from him I suppose it can't be helped. Nor changed, exceptby killing and burying you. One thing is sure, when I'm done you won'tbe trying any more deals like this. Bah, you slimy reptile, you belongin a cess-pool!"

Under Steele Weir's biting speech Sorenson's face went red and pale byturns. His lips twitched and worked, moving his mustache in littleangry lifts, while he breathed with short spasmodic intakes. 

"First, you're after Mexican girls, " Weir went on mercilessly. "ThenMary Johnson, whom I pulled out of your vile fingers. And now it's--"The engineer's fist arose suddenly above the other's head. "Why, Iought to drop you dead in your tracks for so much as looking at JanetHosmer! Why don't you fight? Why don't you give me a chance, youcowardly girl-robber? Haven't you a spark of--well, you haven't, Isee. I'll just tie you up and later figure out some way to make yousuffer for this night's work. " And with a gesture of disgust Weirturned away. 

It was the moment Sorenson had been waiting for. As the engineer'sback came about, exposed in one instant of carelessness, the manstruck Weir full force on the neck, sending him staggering. ThenSorenson leaped for the doorway. 

Janet screamed. Weir recovered himself and whirled around, whippingforth his revolver and firing two shots. But the bullets only buriedthemselves in the door slammed shut after the escaping prisoner. 

"I myself ought to be shot for this, " Steele snapped out. 

He ran across the cabin, flung the door open, sprang out. Theuselessness of seeking his enemy in the black wet gloom was only tooevident, but he would not give up. Gun in hand, he stood listening forsound of fleeing footsteps. 

A light hand gripped his arm. Janet had followed him out, was at hisside. Barely audible he heard her quick, excited breathing. 

"Must you shoot him?" she whispered. 

"Why spare him for more deviltry? But I'll not have the chance now. "

"I can't bear to think of even his blood being on our hands. Let himgo, " Janet said. 

"He's gone without our permission, I'd say. "

"Isn't it just as well? I'm not harmed, and he'll never dare show hisface in San Mateo again, " she said. "He'll have to stay away; he'llleave for good. "

"Not until I see him first. I want that paper. "

"Oh, the paper, I forgot it! And it's in his pocket, " she cried, indespair. 

"Like the fool I was, I forgot it for the moment too, " Steele saidbitterly. "When I could have had it at once I must go off rantingabout his meanness. It was thought of what he had done to you thatmade me overlook the paper; that set me boiling. Lost my head. "

Janet's answer was almost sufficient recompense for even such aserious deprivation as that of the document. 

"I'll never forget that you were angry in my behalf, " she said, softly. "But perhaps you can gain possession of the paper yet. "

Before he could make a reply the sound of a motor engine startledthem. Sorenson was in his car, not far off. Weir immediately plungedforward through the darkness in the direction of the noise, uttering ashout for the man to stop or be shot. But after the taste of libertythat he already had had Sorenson was prepared to take further chances;the engine's roar burst into full volume and the car leaped ahead, while its driver sent back a derisive curse to the cabin. 

Weir fired again, fired two or three times at the sound. PerhapsSorenson was crouching safely out of range; at any rate, the bulletsdid not reach him, for the automobile plunged away. Steele slowly wentback to the girl. 

"How can he see without lights?" she questioned. 

"He can't see, but he'd rather risk not seeing the road than drawingmy fire. There's a bad place there at the rock; he'd better turn onhis lamps if he wants to round that. "

Sensing the danger that threatened Sorenson, both remained unmoving, trying to penetrate the darkness, harkening to the automobile'sretreating murmur. A curiosity, a sort of detached suspense, rootedthem to the spot. 

"Ah, he's snapped them on!" Janet said, almost with relief. 

The powerful beam of the headlights had suddenly blazed forth. Eitherfeeling that he was safe from Weir's gun or realizing that he was onthe verge of a graver danger, Sorenson had chosen to make the light. He was going at headlong speed; even where they watched, Steele andJanet perceived that, --and only his fear of the peril behind whichmade him heedless of the difficulties in front could account for thatreckless pace. 

The light leaped out into the night. Something else too seemed tospring forth within the circle of the glow, dark, sudden, imminent, rushing at the machine. A frantic jerk this way and that of the beamshowed the driver's mad effort to avoid the towering wall of granite. Then a scream rang back to the man and girl before the cabin. Followedinstantly a crash, an extinguishment of the light, darkness, silence, and finally a thin quivering flame at the base of the ledge, delicateand blue, like a dancing chimera. 

Janet's hand reached out and closed in Steele Weir's, and he coveredit with his other hand. 

"Oh, how terrible!" she gasped. "Did you see? The rock seemed to smitehim!"

"Yes. "

"He must be dead. "

"You remain here and I'll go find out. "

He led her into the cabin and to a stool by the table, where restingher elbows on the board she pressed her hands over her eyes as if toblot out the sight she had just witnessed. After all she had suffered, the climax of this dreadful spectacle left her unnerved, weak, shuddering. 

"Don't stay long, " she whispered. "Come back as quick as you can. Thiscabin, this whole spot in the mountains, is awful. I can almost feelhim hovering over me. "

"You mustn't permit such thoughts. " He gave her shoulder anencouraging pat. "It will take but a few minutes to see if he's stillalive and then we'll start home. You've been the bravest girl goingand will continue to be, I know. Everything is over; nothing canhappen to you now. "

Weir went out. He perceived that the wrecked car was fully afire bythis time, its flames illuminating the granite ledge and the groundabout. Evidently the machine's fuel tank had been smashed under theimpact and the gasoline had escaped, preventing an explosion butfiercely feeding the blaze. He ran towards the place. 

At first he did not find Sorenson, so that he supposed him buriedbeneath the wreckage, but presently he discovered his crumpled formlying jammed between the base of the ledge and a boulder. Weir liftedthe limp figure from its resting place and bore it to open ground, where he made an examination of the still form. Clearly Sorenson hadbeen pitched free of the car and crushed against the rock wall. Hiscap was missing; his coat was ripped up the back and a part of it goneas if caught and held by some obstruction in the car when he had beenshot forth; blood and a great bruise marked one cheek; and the way hislegs dragged when he was lifted up indicated some serious injury tothose members. But the man still breathed. 

"Miracles haven't ceased, " Weir muttered, when he had made sure of thefact. "But his chance is slim at best. "

It would be false to say that the engineer felt compassion at theother's sudden catastrophe; he experienced none. On the contrary hehad a sense of justice fittingly executed, as if, escaping bullets andman's blows, Sorenson had been felled by a more certain power, by theinevitable consequences of his own deeds and sins, by a wall of evilhe himself had raised as much as by a wall of stone. 

He searched the man's breast pocket, then hunted for the missingdocument among the stones and bushes. At last he gave up for the timefurther seeking, with a conviction that the vital paper was gone forgood, destroyed in the fire of the burning car. But for his ownover-confidence, his belief he had Sorenson a safe prisoner back therein the cabin, the sheets might be secure in his pocket. Well, it wastoo late now. 

He again lifted the unconscious man in his arms and returned to thelog house. Inside he laid him on the rude bed which Sorenson himselfhad spread with sheets and blankets. 

"He's alive?" Janet asked, awed. 

"Alive, but badly hurt. "

"You'll leave him here?"

"Yes, while I take you away. We could do nothing for him in any case;his injuries are grave and need a doctor's help. The best service wecan perform in his behalf is to start your father or some otherphysician here as quickly as possible. He may live or he may die; thatisn't in our hands. He's unconscious and not suffering, and probablywill not feel pain for some hours if he does live, so we can gowithout feeling that we're robbing him of any of his chances ofrecovery. Your conscience may rest quite easy on that point. Come, we'll start at once. The quicker we reach your father, the quicker hewill arrive here. "

When they were in his car he wrapped a robe about her against thesharp chill. 

"I am cold; my teeth are chattering, " she said. 

"You've been under a great strain. Just lie back and rest and think ofsomething else than what has happened, if you can, " he urged. 

"I'll try to. "

The lamps blazed out at his touch of the switch and the car began tomove. She closed her eyes. She did not wish to see the scene of thesmash, with the leaping fire and the horrible pile of crushed metal. Indeed, she drew the robe before her face, where she kept it for sometime. 

"Are we past the place?" she asked, finally. 

"A long way past. "

"Thank heaven! Nothing shall ever drag me up this road again!"

"It will not take us long to reach Johnson's and be off this trailaltogether, for it's down-hill going all the way. "

"You said nothing about the paper? Did you get it?"

"No; it wasn't on him. I'll return for another look, but it fell inthe fire, I think, and burned. "

"Do you know what was in it, Mr. Weir?"

"No. But I can guess. "

"I know a little of its contents, from what he said before youentered. It was a statement, something about his father and othersdoing dishonest acts, I think. He didn't seem to be quite clear whatit was about either, but he spoke of your father and declared hehoped the others had swindled him, which he inferred had happened. Ididn't know your father ever had been in this country. That's thereason you hate those men, Mr. Sorenson and Mr. Vorse and Mr. Burkhardt; because of some injury they worked your father. "

"That's the reason. And that too is why they're trying to get rid ofme one way or another. But they didn't hire the Mexican to attempt toshoot me; Ed Sorenson employed him. Martinez, when you told me theman's name, telegraphed around the country from Bowenville till he gottrack of the fellow. He also secured evidence that a white manresembling Ed Sorenson had been seen talking with him at the place hecame from. So we can draw our conclusions. "

"Then he hired the man to assassinate you!"

"Looks like it. Because I took Mary Johnson away from him, and fromfear. He was afraid you might learn of the matter, I suppose, anddecided to get rid of me. He's a coward at heart, but none the less acriminal by instinct, so he hired another to do what he dared notattempt himself. A crook like his father, but with less nerve. "

Janet was silent while the car wound its way down the creek road, through the misty darkness and among the invisible peaks. The fulldanger that she had escaped was but now making itself clear to hermind. 

"If he would go so far as to try to murder you, " she faltered, "Isurely could have expected no pity from him. "

"Now listen to me, " he said. "I'm going to give you a little scolding:you must forget all this business; it just makes you fearful andunhappy. The past is over, and he's out of your life for good. Look atit that way. Consider the thing as a bad dream, done with and no moreimportant. That's 'the right view to take'"--he paused, then addedsoftly--"Janet. "

"How strong-souled you are!" she whispered. 

Strong, in truth, he seemed. Ignoring danger he had come swift onSorenson's track and rescued her, saved her, kept her clean from herassailant's infamous brutishness. The one was a knave and a beast; buthe, Steele Weir, was a man, clear to see, quick to act, hard towardsenemies, gentle to friends. Every particle a man--sure of himself, andfearless, and true-hearted, and firm of soul. 

She pressed her hands tight against her breast. He was a man one couldlove and honor. "Cold Steel" Weir they called him--and, she divined, his love if ever given would be as lasting as hoops of steel. 

CHAPTER XVIII

IN THE NIGHT WATCHES

A light still burned in the Johnson ranch house, late as was the hour, when the car swung round a copse of aspens and brought it in view. Johnson himself came forth at sound of the automobile, with a sleepyMary following. 

"I wouldn't go to bed, of course, knowing you were to come back, " saidhe. But his true reason appeared in his added words, "I was just aboutready to saddle a horse and head up there myself. Mighty glad to seeyou safe back, Miss Hosmer. Mary has had some coffee on the fire eversince Weir went along, knowing you'd be cold and worn out. "

"Just the thing!" Steele exclaimed. "We're both chilled. Come, Janet. "And he stepped from the machine. 

Without demur the girl placed her hand in the one he offered anddescended stiffly. Mary ran back into the house to attend to thecoffee-pot and the visitors presently were seated at the kitchen tableat places already laid, with cups of steaming strong coffee and platesof food before them. 

Janet contented herself with the hot, reviving drink, but Weir ateheartily as well. Coming and going, forty miles of driving a roughmountain road had given him a laborer's appetite. 

"It's late, one o'clock, " Mary said to Janet. "Why don't you staywith us the rest of the night? I wish you would. "

Janet put up an arm and drew down the face of the girl at her side andkissed her. 

"You're a good friend, Mary, to be so thoughtful, " she answered. "Butfather will be terribly anxious every minute I'm away. I must reachhome as quickly as possible to ease his mind. "

Of Sorenson nothing had been spoken, though a repressed curiosity onthe part of the ranchman and his daughter had been evident from theinstant of Weir's and Janet's return. 

At this point Johnson jerked his head in the direction of the creek. 

"What did you do to him, Weir?" he growled. 

"Not as much as I intended at first. But he made up for it himself. Ran his car against that granite ledge before the cabin while tryingto get away, and smashed himself up badly. I carried him into the hutand left him there; he was alive when we drove off, but he may be deadby now. Bad eggs like him are hard to kill, however. I'll start adoctor up there when I arrive in San Mateo; probably one fromBowenville. "

"Father won't attend him now, so long as there's another physician whocan, I know, " Janet stated. 

"I should say not!" Johnson asseverated. "If that young hound Sorensonhad his deserts, we'd just leave him there and forget all about him. "

"That's where our civilized notions handicap us, " Steele Weir said, with a slight smile. "But at that, if he were the only personconcerned, I'd do no more than inform a doctor where he was and whathad happened to him, and wash my hands of the affair. There are otherthings, though, to consider. Janet's position, primarily. Her case issimilar to that of Mary's awhile ago, and we must prevent talk. "

"Yes, of course. "

"The worst of the doings of a scoundrel like him that involve innocentpeople is the talk. There are always some people low enough to ascribeevil to the girl as well as the man in such a circumstance as this. Ipropose to see that Janet doesn't suffer that. We avoided it in Mary'scase and we'll do so in this, though the situation is more difficult. I've been thinking the matter over on the way down and have a planthat will work out, I believe, but it requires your help, Johnson. "

"I reckon you know you'll not have to ask me twice for anything, " therancher remarked. 

"And we may have to shuffle the facts a bit. "

"All right. I'll do all the lying necessary and never bat an eye. "

"It won't require much decorating, the story. But you will have to goup and get him, starting at once. " Then he concluded, "I hate to haveto ask you to make that drive late at night and in the darkness. "

"Never mind that. Glad to do it, if that's what you want. "

"Take your wagon and fill the box with hay and bring him down. Bycoming back slowly he won't be jarred, and he has to be brought outanyway. If he's dead, well, bring his body just the same. A doctorshould be easily at your house by the time you arrive; and your storyis that a sheepherder found him lying by his wrecked car, carried himinto the cabin and then came down and told you of the accident, onwhich you went and brought him in, not knowing, of course, in the darkwho he was or what he was doing up there or how the smash-up hadoccurred. You might suggest that he was camping there by himself tofish, and stop at that. "

Johnson nodded. 

"I'll say just enough and no more, " he remarked. 

"If you start at once, you'll be there by daylight if not before. Thatwill get you back here by nine or ten o'clock. I don't want him takento San Mateo; that would stir up a swarm of inquiries and might evensend some of the curious up to the spot. Let the trail get cold, so tospeak. People aren't half as curious about a thing three or four daysafter it happens as at the moment. "

"I've noticed that myself. "

"And another thing, I don't wish his father to learn of the matterjust yet. Under other circumstances he should be the first to know, but I want the news kept from him for a special reason. Besides, itwould be better if he found out about it from others and throughroundabout channels. His son up there I don't see doing any talkinghimself for some time if he does live. When he is able to talk, Ibelieve he'll decide to keep his mouth shut or just accept theexplanation given that he was fishing or something of that kind. Whenthe doctor has looked him over, either he or you will carry him toBowenville. If we could ship him at once to Gaston, where there's somesort of a hospital, I suppose, or even to Santa Fé, that would be thething. He'd be out of the way; there'd be no talk; there would be noexplanations to make except to the doctor. "

"Every doctor round these parts probably knows him, " Johnson said, "and so would insist on taking him home. "

"There's a new one at Bowenville, father says, " Janet put in. "A youngman, just starting practice. He hasn't been there but a few weeks andmay not know Ed. "

"He's the man for us!" Weir declared. "We'll send for him. Now we mustbe going. "

Steele arose from the table and stretched his shoulders. 

"And I'll hitch up my team immediately, " the rancher said. 

"I'll go with you, " Mary exclaimed. 

"Tut, tut, girl. "

"I can help you, and I want to do something to help Mr. Weir and JanetHosmer, even if it's only a little bit. I'm strong, I don't care if itis late--anyway, I'd just have nightmares if I stayed here alone, --andI can help you with him. I'm going, " she ended, obstinately. 

Johnson eyed her for a moment, then yielded. 

"Nothing to be afraid of now, " he rejoined, "but if you would rathergo along with your dad, all right. "

Five minutes later Steele and Janet were emerging from the canyon uponthe mesa. The drizzling rain still continued and the unseen mist beatcool upon their cheeks as the car swung away from Terry Creek fortown. Except for the stream of light projected before them, they wereengulfed in Stygian darkness; and save for the slithering sound of thetires on the wet road, they moved in profound night silence. 

"That business is arranged, " Steele said, after a time. "But we stillhave the results of the attack on Martinez to deal with. I don't knowhow long he'll hold out against the men who dragged him off, probablynot long. I suppose Burkhardt and perhaps Vorse took him, and they'llstop at nothing to get the paper they're after. How they learned ofit, I don't know, but find out about it they did; and they'll forcethe information they want from Martinez if they have to resort to hotirons. That's the kind of men they are. The lawyer will stick up to acertain point--then he'll tell. That brings you into their way. "

"You also, " Janet answered. 

"I've been there for some time, " was his grim response. "But in yourcase it's different. I'm worried, I tell you frankly. "

"Do you think they would dare try to intimidate me in my own home andwith father to protect me?" she cried, incredulously. 

"Not there, perhaps. But if they could inveigle you away, yes. Theywouldn't use hot irons in your case, of course, and I can't guess justwhat they would do, but they would do--something. Those men think Ihave the 'goods' on them; I repeat, they would stop at nothing to savethemselves if worst came to worst; their fear will make them fiends. One couldn't suppose they would dare seize Martinez in all defiance oflaw--but they did. One can't believe they would dream of torturing himfor information--but I haven't a doubt that's what they've done. Soyou see why I'm worried about you. If anything happened, if any harmcame to you now, Janet--"

His voice was unsteady as he spoke her name and ceased abruptly. Shethrilled to this betrayal of his feeling. 

"I wish I could just stick at your side, then I know I should besafe, " she said. 

And for answer she felt his hand grope and press her own for aninstant. 

"You can count on me being somewhere around. "

"I know that, " she said, confidently. 

San Mateo was asleep, buried in gloom when they entered it, and quietexcept for the barking of a dog or two that their passage stirred toactivity. But in Dr. Hosmer's cottage a light was burning and as thecar came to a stop at its gate the door was flung open and the doctorhimself appeared framed in the doorway. He ran hastily down the walkto meet them. 

"Janet!" he cried. And the girl flung her arms about him. 

"Juanita told you? Oh, it was dreadful! But Mr. Weir has brought mehome safe. "

Dr. Hosmer too agitated to speak reached out and grasped theengineer's hand, pressing it fervently. 

 * * * * *

At about that moment three men sat in the rear of Vorse's saloon. Theshades were drawn and the front part of the long room was dark. Only adull light burned where they sat. They were talking in low tones, withlong pauses, with worried but determined, savage faces--Vorse, Burkhardt, Sorenson. 

"Where the devil is she, that's what I want to know!" Burkhardtgrowled. "I've been over twice and looked through a window. Doc wasthere. "

"She's in bed and asleep, probably, " Sorenson said. 

"I don't believe it. The old man would be in the sheets himself ifthat were the case. Didn't I call up twice by 'phone too? She was out, they said. "

"Couldn't do much with her father there, anyway. We've got to get thepaper by soft talk, " Vorse commented. "I still half believe Martinezwas lying when he said it had been in that old chair. She couldn'thave got to the office and away in the hour or two before he toldwithout some one seeing her, and no one did so far as we can learn. Welocked the door too the second time we went back and it hasn't beenopened since; and we were there ten minutes after our first visit whenwe learned the papers weren't among those in his pocket. I think he'sgot it cached away somewhere still. "

"Then we'll give him another dose of our medicine. "

"If I know anything about men, he told the truth, " Sorenson said. 

"Well, if the girl has it, we've got to get it from her if I have towring her neck to do it. " It was Burkhardt's inflamed utterance. 

A pause followed. 

"Sorenson, your boy is engaged to her, " Vorse stated. 

"Yes. "

"Then it's up to him to get it first thing in the morning. Maybe itgoes against the grain to let him know about this business of thepast, but it ain't going to knock him over; he's no fool, he's a wisebird, he understands that a good many things are done in business thataren't advertised. He knows we weren't missionaries in the old days. And she'll hand it over for him when she might not for any one else. "

"That's right, Sorenson, " Burkhardt affirmed, his scowling facevisibly clearing. 

"Ed went away somewhere this evening, that's the only drawback to yourscheme. Said something about Bowenville and catching the night trainto Santa Fé, and that he might be gone maybe a couple of days andmaybe a week. "

"Hell!" Burkhardt exploded, in consternation. 

Vorse however remained cool. 

"Then you must start telegrams to head him off, start them the instantyou get home. Telephone to Bowenville the message you want sent andhave the operator dispatch it to all trains going both ways sinceearly evening, in order to make sure. If you can reach him within twoor three hours, wherever he is, he can hop off, catch a train backand be here by to-morrow evening. Make your message urgent. Andmeanwhile we'll do what we can to get hold of that paper. At any ratewe can keep her from seeing Weir. If we have to watch her we'll do it;and if we have to stop her from going to the dam we'll do that somewaytoo. You might invite her over to-morrow to spend the day at yourhouse. "

"Do you think she'll be likely to come if she reads that document?"the banker inquired coldly. 

"Why not? Tell her right off the bat that the thing is a lie and aforgery and that you want to explain about how it was made. She mightfall for that and carry the document to you. She's always had a goodopinion of you, hasn't she?"

"Yes. "

"Then why should she change at a mere story. "

"You're right, " Sorenson exclaimed with sudden energy. "The matterdescribed happened so long ago that she won't probably attach as muchimportance to it as we've imagined she would. I'll ask her to bring itto me to see--and that will be all that's necessary, once it's in myfingers. "

"And what about him?" Burkhardt asked, striking the floor with hisheel. 

"Just leave him there for the present. To-morrow we'll have anothertalk with him, " the cattleman stated. "Better offer him a couple ofthousand to go to another state; he'll grab at the chance, I fancy. Money heals most wounds. But, Vorse, keep your cellar locked and thebartender away from it. We can start Martinez away sometimeto-morrow. "

"Don't know about that. To-morrow night will be our busy night, " theex-sheriff said. 

"We might let Gordon handle him, " Vorse suggested. 

"I thought perhaps you intended to keep the Judge in ignorance of thisMartinez matter. He seems to be getting sort of feeble. "

"He's not too feeble to take his share of the unpleasant jobs alongwith the rest of us, " Vorse answered, unfeelingly. "I shall have himin here first thing in the morning and tell him what's happened andwhat we've done and what he has to do. "

"Sure, " said Burkhardt. 

"Well, that's agreeable to me, " Sorenson stated, looking at his watchand rising: "Time we were turning in, if there's nothing more. "

 * * * * *

At the dam camp Meyers, the assistant chief engineer, and Atkinson, the superintendent, were still awake, smoking and talking in theoffice. 

"I smelt enough booze on those fellows who came stringing in here tofill the reservoir, " the latter was saying. "Some one's feeding it tothem. "

"Nobody drunk, though. "

"No. But who's giving it to them and why? I asked one fellow and hesaid he'd been to a birthday party, and wouldn't tell where. They wereall feeling pretty lush, even if they weren't soused. And to-morrow'sSunday!"

"They'll all be idle, you mean?"

"Sure. If there's more liquor, they'll be after it. All day to drinkin means a big celebration. The whiskey is sent up from town, ofcourse, and I reckon sent just at this time to get us all in bad whileMr. Pollock's here. "

"We'll look up the bootlegging nest to-morrow, " Meyers said, withfinality. 

"What can we do if we do locate it? They're not selling the stuff, Ijudge, but giving it away. That clears their skirts and forces us todeal with the men themselves if there's any dealing done. Probablythey hope to start a big row among us that way. "

"We'll await Weir's advice. "

"Well, I've waited all I'm going to to-night. Seems to me for asteady, quiet, self-respecting, dignified, unhooked, unmarried, unmortgaged, unromantic man he's skylarking and gallivanting aroundpretty late. "

 * * * * *

On the rocky creek road the ranchman and his daughter Mary weredriving up among the trees on their way to the cabin, a lanternswinging from the end of the wagon tongue, the horses strainingagainst the grade. On Johnson's beard the moisture formed beads whichfrom time to time he brushed away. From the trees collected drops ofwater fell on their hands and knees. All about as they proceeded thebushes and rocks appeared in shadowy outline, to disappear in thenight once more, yielding to others. 

"Isn't this cabin where we're going the one we drove to three yearsago when you were hunting some cattle?" Mary asked. 

"Yes. "

"I never thought then that Ed Sorenson would be lying up there allmashed to pieces, " she said, with awed voice. 

"I guess he didn't either, " was the dry response. 

"He ought to be ready to stop chasing girls after this, " shedeclared. 

"He won't if he can walk; his kind never does quit. "

"Then his kind ought to be locked up somewhere like mad dogs. In a'sylum, maybe. "

"I guess you're right on that, Mary. They're dangerous. "

"Funny we didn't know he'd been up there, going past our house. Hemust have been there first before taking Janet. "

"Sneaked up in the night, probably. He'd have to have grub and so onif he expected to stay even a day or two. Crooks always look aftertheir bellies, be sure. "

"I reckon Janet Hosmer will like Mr. Weir a whole lot now, don'tyou?"

"She ought to, if she doesn't. "

A long silence followed while Mary apparently pursued the line ofthought opened up by this speculation. 

"If she has the good sense I think she has, " the rancher stated atlength, for his mind at least had been following out the subject, "she'll not only like him a whole lot, but she'll lead him to thealtar and put her brand on him. "

He spoke to unhearing ears. For just then Mary sagged against him, herhead sank on his shoulder. He put an arm around her form and let hersleep, thus roughly expressing his tenderness and love. Weir had notonly rescued Janet Hosmer from the clutches of the man now lyinginjured; he also had once saved Johnson's own child Mary from thescoundrel's grasp. 

Weir might ask anything of him, even to the laying down of his life inhis defense. 

CHAPTER XIX

A QUEER PAPER

When Mary Johnson next opened her eyes it was at a little shake by herfather. She had slept heavily despite the jolting of the wagon; andnow looked about drowsy-eyed and at a loss to know where she was. Herclothes and face were damp, her hands cold. She wasn't sure yet butthis was still a dream--the team and wagon, the cabin before whichthey stood, the trees and rocks scattered about the grassy park-likebasin, and the soaring mountain peaks on every hand that were justtouched by the first early sun-rays. 

The rain and mists were gone, leaving the dawn clear, gray, sharp, scented with the pungent odor of balsam and pine. From a distance camethe subdued murmur of Terry Creek, which here high in the mountainrange had its source in springs and brooks flowing from pools. All waspeaceful. 

Mary's look came to rest on the cabin. Over it reared the great pinesthat grew in a clump behind. Its door was ajar, but the log house forany sign of occupancy might have been untenanted. Immediately the girlglanced back along the road they had come and beheld there in the dimshadow at the foot of the lofty granite ledge a shapeless black lump. She shivered. 

"You awake?" her father asked. 

"Yes. " And she began to climb down over the wagon wheel. 

"Wait here. I'll go in first. He might be----" But though the rancherdid not complete his sentence the words spoken carried their own graveimplication. 

He came out again presently. Mary gazed at his face to read from itthe news it might carry, and it was with a breath of relief sheperceived that the injured man was still alive, for her father himselfappeared easier of mind. Neither would by choice have a dead man for apassenger on the ride home, even Ed Sorenson. 

"He's breathing, but is still unconscious, " Johnson declared. "Musthave got a crack in the head along with the rest. Face is covered withdried blood. From the stuff inside the house he must have been fixingfor quite a stay--blankets, grub, whiskey, candles, and so on. We'lleat a bite ourselves before starting back; get the pail out of thewagon and bring some water and I'll make a pot of coffee. There's afireplace and wood inside. "

"I'll get the water, but I'll stay out while you're boiling it, " thegirl said. "I don't want to see him until I have to go in and helpcarry him out. "

She went off for the water, on her return setting the bucket by thedoor. Then curious to see the place of Ed Sorenson's accident, shewandered back along the trail to the ledge. There she beheld thecrumpled, fire-blackened remains of his automobile in a heap near thestone wall. Apparently the car had first struck a small boulder, whichhad flung Sorenson out on one side and forward, then leaping this hitthe ledge full force. 

At the instant he must have been off the road and headed wrong, sheguessed. The rapid daybreak of the mountains had by now dispersed thelast dimness and indeed the crags far above were bright with sunshine. She could plainly see the ruin that the machine was, fire havingcompleted what the smash had left undamaged, and the part of the rockthat was smoked by the flames, and was able to smell yet the reek ofburnt oil, varnish and rubber. 

With the eyes of the curious she stared at the wreck, at the ledge, atthe ground, absorbed with simple speculations and filled with a senseof awe. The machine must have made a big sound when it struck. It wasa lot of money gone quickly, that car. Not enough of it left to makeit worth hauling away. And so on and so on. 

Then all at once her wandering regard detected something white in acrevice between two stones. At first she thought it the gleam of abird or a chipmunk. The thing was some yards off from the spot whereshe stood, but the flutter persisted. So she approached it to learnits nature. 

The thing was a paper. One corner of a sheet stuck up from the crackin which it lay and was waved gently by the rising dawn breeze. Shedrew it out and perceived it was fastened to other sheets that werefolded, all damp from the rain though not soaked because the crannyhad admitted little moisture. It was the last sheet which had comepartly unfolded, apparently as it fell, so was left in sight or shewould never have noticed the white flutter. This last sheet was blank, but the others, neatly folded though wrinkled, were covered withwriting she saw on spreading them open. However, she could not readthe pages; the matter was typewritten, but it was not English. Someforeign language, maybe. 

If Mary could not read the document, she could at least logicallydeduce how it had happened to be in its present resting-place. Thepaper was here because the wrecked automobile was here, so when EdSorenson was pitched out the folded sheets of paper must have beenpropelled from his pocket by the same force and at the same instant. It hit a rock after flying through the air and slid down into thecrack. 

Perhaps it was only a business document; it looked like one. Againperhaps it told something about his crooked private affairs--about hisschemes for ruining girls, possibly. Very likely, indeed. That seemedto be about all he engaged himself at. When she found some one whocould read it, she would know for certain. She would just take italong with her and say nothing about her find until she could havesomebody who understood the writing read it over for her. 

In places the typing had stained from dampness, but not seriously. Shecould dry out the pages over the kitchen stove at home. So folding thesheets again, she doubled the document, tied it in her handkerchiefand placed it inside her waist, where it could not be lost. Perhapsthere were other papers. But a further search disclosed none, whereupon as her father was shouting to her from the cabin to come sheretraced her steps. 

When they had drunk their coffee and eaten some of Sorenson's food, making their meal before the door, they carried the unconscious manout to the wagon, bearing him in the blanket on which he lay. Otherblankets they spread over him. Johnson also placed at the prostratefigure's feet the rest of the eatables in the cabin. 

"No need to leave this stuff to the pack-rats, " said he. "We'll justconsider it a little pay towards fetching him out. "

"He ought to be willing to pay you a whole lot more when he learns thetrouble you've been to. "

"I wouldn't touch his money if he offered me a thousand dollars; I'dthrow it back in his face. I'm not doing this for pay, or friendship, or charity; I'm doing it to help Janet Hosmer and because Weir askedme. If the Sorensons had all the money on earth, they couldn't give mea penny as between man and man. If they owed it to me, that would beanother matter. They'd pay it if I had to stick a gun down theirthroats to make them come across. "

"We don't need any of their money, I guess, " Mary said. 

"Nope. We're poor but we're straight. So we're better off than theyare--richer, if we just look at it that way. "

Once during the long drive, as they neared the ranch house, a low moancame from the form on the straw in the wagonbed. Both Johnson and Marylooked around quickly, then regarded each other. 

"Beginning to suffer, " said the parent. "It's a wonder there's a wholebone in his body. I hope the doctor is down below waiting for us. "

This proved to be the case when about ten o'clock Johnson drove hisworn-out team into his dooryard. Weir's car was there and with it theengineer himself and a young medical practitioner. Climbing up intothe wagon, the doctor made a hasty examination of the patient. 

"Hips broken. Slight concussion of the skull, but not dangerous, " washis opinion. "I shall not be able to tell the full seriousness of hisinjuries until I have him stripped on a table or bed. Probably thereare other broken bones, --ribs or something. We must get him down toBowenville as quickly as possible, for his is a bad case. But I guessif he has pulled through so far he'll recover. If you'll drive yourwagon down to the mouth of the canyon, we'll transfer him to my car, which is double seated, and then you can accompany me to town; Mr. Weir says you are willing to go along and help. I'll send you backfrom Bowenville. "

"Yes, I'll go along. Mary will ride down with us and bring back theteam and wagon. "

"Strange what he was doing up there in the mountains with anautomobile alone, " the doctor remarked. 

"Oh, he might have wanted a day's fishing, or was taking a look atcattle or range, something like that, " Johnson stated. 

"Mr. Weir said a sheepherder found him. Wasn't that it, sir?"

The engineer turned to the rancher. 

"Wasn't that the way of it?"

"Yes. Showed up here late and said he had found the man and carriedhim into the cabin. Said his wrecked car was still burning, so theaccident couldn't have occurred very long previous. Said we ought tobring him down immediately as he was badly hurt. So I sent word to Dr. Hosmer, and my girl and I set off at once, the sheepherder going backwith us. Said he just happened to be looking for a stray sheep or hewould never have come on this man, as he was heading his band for apass to get over on the west side of the range. S'pose we'll never seehim again. "

"Do you know who this man is?"

"His face seems sort of familiar, " Johnson replied, scratching hischin. "But he looks like a city chap, by his clothes, what's left ofthem. No papers or anything on him to tell his name. Might have comeover the pass himself from the other side; men go everywhere in thesehill-climbing cars they make nowadays. "

"Somebody will be seeking information soon and then we'll know, " thephysician said. "He'll probably give his name and address himself whenhe comes round. But if I'm not mistaken he'll need another sort ofcar if he does any moving about when he's out of bed. "

"Why's that?"

"Speaking off-hand, I'll say he'll never walk again. That's the waybroken hips usually turn out; and if his spine is injured, as Isuspect, he will probably be paralyzed from the waist down. Hard luckfor a young man like him. He'll wish at times he was killedoutright. "

Unobserved by the speaker Weir and Johnson exchanged a meaningfullook. In the minds of both moved the same thought, that Providence hadpunished Ed Sorenson according to his sins and more adequately thancould man. Dreadful years were before him. He would, in truth, wish athousand times that he had died at the foot of the ledge. 

Half an hour later the visitors had departed, the rancher going withthe physician and his charge to Bowenville, Weir returning to SanMateo. Mary had driven the wagon up from the mouth of the canyon, unharnessed the horses, watered and fed them, and now was seated inthe kitchen staring absently out the open door. After so muchexcitement she felt distrait, depressed. 

Finally she produced and dried the papers over the stove, in which shehad re-kindled a fire. 

"Funny how anybody should want to talk or write anything but English, "she remarked to herself, gazing at the pages. 

She attempted to extract some sense from the strange words. At thebottom of the last sheet she deciphered, Felipe Martinez' name underthe notorial acknowledgment. All at once in scanning certain lines shecame on names that were plain enough--Sorenson, Vorse, Burkhardt, Gordon. The last must mean Judge Gordon. Then presently she found twomore names that excited her curiosity--James Dent's and JosephWeir's. 

Springing to her feet she stared at the sheets in her hand. For somereason or other her blood was beating with an odd sensation ofimpending discovery. 

"Why--why----" she stammered. "Why, those are the men father toldabout being shot, and him looking on as a boy! This is a queer paper!I wish he were here. "

Possession of it gave her a feeling of uneasiness. Her father hadwarned her never to speak of the matter to any one--and here wassomething about it in writing, or so she guessed. He had said Sorensonand the other men would kill him at once if they learned he had been awitness. That meant they would kill her too if they found out that shenot only knew about their crime but had this paper as well. 

She looked about. Finally she retied the document in a tea-towel, tight and secure, and buried it deep in the flour barrel. They wouldnot think of looking in the flour. But she went to the door just thesame and gazed anxiously down the canyon as if enemies might put theirheads in sight that very minute. 

CHAPTER XX

ANXIETIES

"My dear doctor, your talents are wasted in San Mateo. They should beemployed in the larger field of diplomacy, " said Steele Weir, when onhis arrival from Terry Creek he was apprised of what had occurredduring his absence. 

"From all indications I shall have full opportunity for their usehereafter, whatever they may be, in our own bailiwick, " DoctorHosmer replied, smiling. "There's more going on in our village, apparently, than in many a small kingdom. I merely had Janet use thetruth with certain limitations, and there's no wiser course whenpart of the facts are known. Sorenson seemed quite satisfied with herexplanation. "

The colloquy resulted from a meeting between Janet and the cattlemanwhile Weir was guiding the young physician, summoned from Bowenville, to Johnson's ranch. Sorenson had appeared at the house about teno'clock that morning desiring to see the girl. They had talkedtogether on the veranda, where the visitor stated he had effected asettlement and obtained an acknowledgment from Martinez, who wastrying to blackmail him and others; that a certain paper had beenprepared by the lawyer for use in the disreputable business; that theman had said he had asked Janet to secure it from an old chair in hisoffice; and he wished to learn if she had done so. 

Janet had admitted such to be the case. 

"It was odd Mr. Martinez should telephone me to go get it, wasn't it?"she had asked. "But I went, and there it was stuffed in the lining ofthe chair. "

"You have it then?" Sorenson stated, with a sigh of relief and hiseyes kindling with eagerness. 

"No, I haven't it now. "

"What in heaven's name did you do with it?" he asked. 

"As I was coming out of Mr. Martinez' office, there at the door wasEd. He had seen me go in and so stopped his car before the door; aftera time he took the paper to see what it was. "

"Then you didn't see its contents?"

"No; I didn't even open it. "

"And he has it?"

"He had it the last I saw of the paper. He read it. First, he wasgoing to burn it up because it made him angry, then he changed hismind, saying he would take it to show to you, as he thought you wouldbe interested. Is there anything else you wish to know, Mr. Sorenson?"

"Where did he go from there?"

"He drove away. From something he said, I judged that he planned to beaway from home several days. "

Revolting as it was to Janet to put so fair a face on Ed Sorenson'sconduct, nevertheless she had braced herself to go through with thepart and presented to the cattleman a clear, natural countenance. Thevery simplicity of her story, its directness, its accord with thefacts as he knew them, carried conviction. Innocently drawn into theaffair, she had, in his view, been quickly guided out again by Ed'sluck and wit. 

Ed had the deadly document. The four men concerned might breatheeasily once more. Ed himself, in all probability, did not realize thetrue menace of old Saurez' deposition, or he would at once havebrought it to him instead of continuing on his trip: the boy no doubtthought it sufficient to keep it until he returned or mailed it backfrom somewhere; he perhaps had taken it along for a more carefulreading. Good boy, anyway. He had got possession of the thing, thatwas the main consideration. 

"He told me too that he was leaving last evening for a few days'jaunt, " Sorenson said, rising to go. "You'll likely have a wholebasketful of letters from him. Finest boy going, Ed, even if it's hisown father who says it. But he's the lucky one, Janet. " The girllowered her eyelids, for at this flattery she felt she could no longerdissemble her feelings. "Sorry to have bothered you about the matter, "he concluded. "Fellows like this Martinez are always making ustrouble. Run over and eat dinner with us soon. "

He went down the walk, large, dominant and still with a trace ofhis early cowman's walk. Both his step and his erectness bespokethe buoyant effect of the talk upon his spirits, which was not tobe wondered at as he had splendid news to import to his confrèresin crime. They would get rid of Martinez, destroy the paper whenEd delivered it, and their skeleton--this one (of a number) whichhad unexpectedly kicked the door open and started to dance inpublic--would be safely locked up forever. For Saurez, the onlywitness (as they believed) was now dead: he would make no moredepositions. Certainly Sorenson had reason to walk briskly awayfrom Doctor Hosmer's dwelling. 

Janet had somberly watched him till he was out of sight, then had goneinside. 

"I don't see how I ever imagined him an honorable man, " she said toher father. "For all his pretended politeness he was ready ifnecessary to bully me. One thing he can't ever say is that I didn'ttell him exact facts; what I omitted was the circumstances giving riseto the facts. " And her father, who now knew from Weir the story of thehappening of thirty years before, assured her that she need betroubled over no moral hairsplitting. 

The incident, as Steele Weir perceived, diverted both suspicion anddanger from Janet, at least for a time. A big gain that. And he wasimpressed by the subtle sagacity of the maneuver. 

"That wasn't just a clever move, it was a flash of genius, " he toldfather and daughter. Then after a few minutes more of talk he said:"Now I must be running up to the dam. To-day is Sunday and the worksare quiet, so if I find everything all right I shall strike backimmediately for Terry Creek and the cabin up above. I want to make asearch for that paper by daylight. "

"After your hard night?" Janet exclaimed. "I snatched some sleep whenwe had done talking last night, but father says you and he had none. You can't make that terrible ride again without rest!"

"Missing a night in bed is nothing new, " he laughed. "Once or twice inmy life I've not had my clothes off in a week, and only such cat-napsas I could steal meantime. But I'll not boast of that; your fatherprobably has gone longer periods without sleep, or with only brokenrest, than ever I did. Most doctors do. Be sure and let me know ifanything new occurs. "

But if Weir's mind was put at ease so far as Janet was concerned, hehad more than enough other cares to burden his thoughts. The loss ofthe deposition, chief of all; then the matter of effecting Martinez'release, wherever he was immured; and finally, as he learned fromMeyers and Atkinson on reaching camp, the insidious promise of troublein the "free whiskey party. "

"Perhaps whoever supplied the fire-water underestimated thiscopper-lined crew's capacity and didn't furnish enough, " Meyerssuggested. "Nobody was really drunk last night and here it is nearlynoon, with the men all hanging about camp. If there was whiskey yet tobe had, some of these thirsty, rollicking scrappers of ours would beright back at the spigot this morning. "

"Maybe so, " Atkinson admitted. "Seems so--and yet I ain't easy in mymind. The men don't act right; they behave as if they're just waiting;they're restless and not a man could I get to open his mouth aboutwhere they found the stuff. If there wasn't to be any more, they wouldhave told and tried to kid me. They appear to me as if just bidingtheir time. Some men weren't gone, of course, those who don't drink. They stayed in the bunk-house and they know nothing. "

"We'll go on the supposition then that there will be more coming, andact accordingly, " Weir stated, at once. "Watch them close, and put upa warning that men who are not at work in the morning, or who bringbooze into camp, will be fired. "

"That's the trouble, " the superintendent declared. "I don't think theybrought a drop in except in their skins. And as we say, they weren'tdrunk. There's not a thing we can object to and they know it; somebodyhas put 'em wise how to act. Here they are, sober this morning, behaving themselves, and so on. We can't keep men from going for awalk if they want to; we can't string barb-wire around the camp andhold them in; we can't even say they can't touch a bottle if astranger offers them one when they're on the outside. "

"But we can hold up the consequences if they go on a spree, " Steelereplied. "Most of them are satisfied with the work and pay and grub;they don't want to go. "

"No, but they like whiskey too, free whiskey in particular. They wouldsay they're not getting drunk--no man ever really expects to when hestarts drinking--and talk about their 'rights. ' There are two or threefellows in camp now who are doing a lot of mouthing about labor'srights; I. W. W. 's, I'd say. Shouldn't be surprised if they were thering-leaders. "

"If more whiskey comes, we must beat them to it. "

"That's my notion, " Atkinson said, with a nod. "I didn't locate thebooze fountain last night, but I did this morning. Took a horse atdaylight and rode along the hills; about a mile south in some trees atthe foot of the mountain, I came across a case of empty bottles and akeg half-full of water. That was all, but it showed where the'birthday party' was. "

"That's the place to watch, then. Better send a trusty man there toreport to us immediately if he sees signs of a supply arriving forto-night. Half a dozen of us with axes will soon start a temperancewave in that locality. "

In accordance with this instruction the superintendent dispatched areliable man to maintain guard at the spot; and Weir, feeling that allhad been done that was possible under the circumstances, gave hisattention to other matters. 

But he perceived that with this "liquor attack" in the air, for it wasbut another of his enemies' moves against him, of course, directedwith the purpose of creating internal disorder, he must postpone histrip to the headwaters of Terry Creek. Knowing the crafty, persistent, conscienceless character of the four men inspiring thetrick, he was under no delusion that the "free whiskey" would end witha single case of bottles. Among three hundred men that would amount tobut two or three drinks apiece--a mere taste, only a teaser. Andbecause it was only a teaser, the men would want more. If he couldcarry them over this idle Sunday sober, they would be at work on themorrow and the chief danger be passed. 

Unfortunately a manager cannot take his workmen into his confidence insuch a case and explain the nature of such a cunning attack; the thingwas too complex, and their untutored minds would fail to perceive ifthey did not actually reject the explanation, in jealousy for their"rights" concluding that they were being hoodwinked. By veryperverseness they would refuse to deny themselves a free gift ofwhiskey. 

With Pollock, however, whose interest as a director was vital, hecould talk in full expectation of being understood. And moreover, owing to the entangled condition into which the company's and his ownpersonal affairs had come, strict honor required that he inform hisvisitor of the entire situation and offer, if in the director's viewsuch action would best serve the company's ends, to resign. 

In his office immediately after dinner he gave the easterner acomplete account of happenings in San Mateo since his arrival asmanager, with a statement of his father's earlier residence here, ofthe fraud practiced by Sorenson and his companions on him and histragically ruined life. 

"This, you see, has resulted not only in bringing the animosity ofthese men against me but in aggravating their hostility to thecompany, " he concluded. "I've never been a quitter. It would go sorelyagainst the grain with me to quit now while under fire. But my ownfeelings or fortunes should have no weight; the company's interestsalone are to be considered. I shall turn over the management to Meyersand retire if you desire; I count my contract not binding upon yourboard under the circumstances. "

Pollock arose and began to pace the office, gently beating the airwith his eye-glasses and thoughtfully regarding the floor. 

"I should not do your remarkable story proper justice if I did notgive it the serious attention it deserves, " he said, after a time. "Certain aspects of the case would appear to favor our acceptingyour resignation, but on analysis, Weir, they turn out to be aspectsonly, not real arguments. Assuming the facts are as you relate, whichI personally don't doubt, these men, if they will stop at nothingto injure you, will be no more reluctant to injure us. In fact, ifyou withdrew they would feel that they had gained a distincttriumph, forced us to yield to their will, and would be inspired tofurther and greater opposition. Personal hatred for you on theirpart is no ground for their fixing their enmity on the company. Butthat enmity, apparently, already existed before you came. Therefore ifthey hate you likewise, you and our company have a common bond. Andthat assures us of one thing, or several things: your vigilance, care of company property, and loyalty. Last, and aside from that, you are, I am confident, possessed of the exact qualities essential tothe successful solution of present difficulties. We prefer as manageran energetic, determined, fighting man, however much disliked byenvious neighbors, to some fellow less firm and more inclined toconciliation. The latter never gained anything with out-and-outfoes, from what I've seen. So you perceive, Weir, that when myassociates and I get into a row we're not quitters either. We shalltherefore just dismiss all talk of your resignation. "

"Very good; I wanted you to know the facts. "

Pollock paced to and fro for a time longer. 

"What really interests me is your own fight, " he remarked at length. "If the paper you spoke of should be found, I would be pleased to haveit translated for you. I should also like to consult with this manMartinez; he seems a clever fellow. You expect to settle with thisquartet who defrauded your father, of course. "

"Certainly. But the money isn't the main thing. For no amount of moneywould ever pay for the wrong done my father. I want to make these mensuffer, suffer as he suffered. Call it a simple desire for revenge ifyou will; that's what it really is. They robbed him of his future aswell as of his ranch and cattle. They took away hope and implanted inhis breast terror and remorse wholly undeserved. But for them he mighthave been a happy, prosperous, well-thought of man in this state. Yes, revenge is what I want, not money. Revenge that will be for them anequivalent of hell. "

"But they should pay the legal penalties of their crime as well, " thelawyer spoke. "Recovery of the original amounts gained by fraud fromboth your father and this man Dent, and accumulated interest as wellas damages, should be had. In all it should make a large amount. "

"I suppose so. Probably enough to clean the four men out. But thoughof course I should enjoy getting the property or money that wasrightfully my father's and now mine, still I'd let that go if I couldsecure the satisfaction of making the four men pay in the coin Iwant. "

"Don't be a fool, Weir. Don't overlook any bets, as the saying is. Taking their property away from them will but add to their pain and toyour pleasure. Now we must see if Dent's heirs can be found. I suggestthat you employ some good attorney to start a hunt along that line, for an action by Dent's relatives will indirectly strengthen your owncase. I'm doubtful about one thing, however----"

"What is that?"

"Your courts here, and the value of this old Mexican's deposition. Thecase could be brought in a Federal Court as you're a non-resident, which would solve the first point, but how much weight would thisMexican's testimony have against white men of standing and after aperiod of thirty years. If you could find another witness----"

"There was one, a white boy, so Martinez hinted, " Weir said. 

"Find him, find him. Search the whole country until you find him!"

"That's a big undertaking, when I don't even know his name or whetherhe's alive. "

"Begin nevertheless. "

"Well, I had better find my lost paper or secure another statementfrom old Saurez first. At present I have absolutely nothing that acourt would look at; I haven't as much as I had yesterday. And evenMartinez has been spirited away. "

Pollock smiled. 

"I'm interested, greatly interested, " he said. "I'm not activelyengaged in legal affairs at home and I may stay on here awhile longer. Perhaps I can assist you; it promises excitement, at any rate. Afterdry corporation matters, it should be a refreshing change--and Ihaven't had a real vacation in years. Possibly this is the time totake one. "

"I appreciate your kindness in speaking so, Mr. Pollock. "

"But I'm quite selfish; I'm seeking entertainment. And your pepperyaffairs promise it. Do you give me permission to take a hand?"

"Gladly. "

"Then as a beginning I'll go to town. Saurez, you say, was the oldMexican's name? And give me the facts again as you know them about theaffair of your father and the man Dent in the saloon. "

Pollock listened closely as Steele Weir repeated the story. 

"That's all I know, and it's meager at best, " the engineer concluded. 

"Pity you didn't get to read the deposition, which would haveincreased your fund of information. More unfortunate it is that youhaven't the paper itself. But we'll do the best we can without it forthe present. Kindly have some one drive me in to San Mateo. "

"Atkinson, the superintendent, is going there for me. I thought hemight pick up something of Martinez' whereabouts. "

"Where does Judge Gordon live?"

"I can't tell you that. But you can easily learn when you reachtown. "

"Well, the Judge used to handle company matters, you know. " The smileon Pollock's lips was inscrutable. "I used to have frequentconferences with him when I was here at the inception of our project. He is very shrewd in certain ways, but he impressed me as being notexactly--what shall I say?--'cold steel', for instance. " And stillwearing the thin smile, he went out. 

If Weir had not had so many things to make his mind grave, from amissing paper and a missing lawyer to mysterious whiskey and fierceenemies, he would have leaned back and laughed. 

CHAPTER XXI

THE WEAK LINK

Though the sun was bright that day, unseen forces were gathering inthe sky above town, mesa and mountains, not of weather but of fate, toloose their lightnings. Sunday peace seemed to reign, the languidsummer Sunday peace of tranquil nature. Yet even through this therewas a faint breath of impending events, a quiver or excitement in theair, an increasing expectation on the part of men, who sensed but didnot realize what was to come. 

All day whispers and hints had passed among the people in San Mateoand out to isolated farms and up nearby creeks, kindling in theignorant, brown-skinned Mexicans a lively interest and an exorbitantcuriosity. Nothing was said definitely; nothing was promised outright. So in consequence speculation ran wild and rumors wilder. The hintshad to do with the manager of the dam who had shot the strangeMexican: something was to be done with him, something was to happen tohim. He had been arrested, or was to be arrested; he had confessed, orwas about to confess the murder; he was going to kill other Mexicans, or had killed other Mexicans; he was about to raid San Mateo with hisworkmen and slay the town; he was to be hanged;--and so on eternally. Uncertain as was everything else, what was sure apparently was thatsomething would happen at San Mateo that night. 

Families visiting about in wagons spread the news. Horsemen were atpains to ride to outlying Mexican ranch houses, for what messenger isso welcome as he who brings tales of great doings? He might be sure ofan audience at once. So it was that the plan craftily put in operationby Weir's enemies, to gather and inflame the people, under cover ofwhose pressure and excitement when the engineer was arrested he mightbe slain by a pretended rescue or popular demonstration, whichevershould serve best, produced the expected result. During the afternoonwagons and horsemen and men on foot began to appear in town, to joinalready aroused relatives or friends at their adobe houses or to loafalong the main street in groups. 

Outwardly there were few signs in the aspect of the Mexican folk ofsomething extraordinary developing. But to the sheriff, Madden, aroused from an afternoon nap at his home by a telephoned message fromthe county attorney requesting him to come to the court house, theunwonted number in the town was in itself a significant fact. 

"I didn't know this was a fiesta, Alvarez. What's up with you people?"he asked of one he met on the street. 

"The fiesta is to be to-night, eh?" the man laughed. "Have you thisengineer locked up yet?"

"What engineer?"

"The killer, the gun-man, that Weir. It is said he is already arrestedand is to be hanged from the big cottonwood at dark beside the jail. It is also said he is still loose and bringing five hundred workmen toburn the town, rob the bank, kill the men and steal the girls. "

"If he is to do either, it's news to me, " Madden said, and proceededto the office of Lucerio, the county attorney. 

Madden was a blunt man, who for policy's sake might close his eyes tounimportant political influence as exercised by the Sorenson crowd. But he was no mere compliant tool. This was his first term in office. He had never yet crossed swords with the cattleman and the othersassociated with him, because the occasion had never arisen. When hehad allowed himself to be nominated for sheriff, though Sorenson mightimagine Madden to be at his orders, the latter had accepted the officewith certain well-defined ideas of his duty. 

"What do you want of me?" he asked Lucerio, for whom he had littleliking. 

"I desire to tell you, Madden, that at eight o'clock I'll have awarrant for you to serve on the engineer Weir. You'll go to the damand arrest him and bring him in to the jail. "

"Well, apparently the whole country except me knew this was to happen. The town's filling up as if it were going to be a bull-fight. "

"I know nothing of that. "

"All right; give me the warrant. "

"At eight o'clock. I don't want it served before then. "

"Why?"

"I have my reasons. "

"Sorenson? And Vorse and Burkhardt? They've stirred up this chargeagainst the man. " Lucerio making an angry answer, he continued. "Well, everybody knows you jump when they pull the string. I'll have to servethe warrant, naturally. But I'm going to tell you what I think: you'vefaked the evidence you've got; we had the truth from Martinez andJanet Hosmer at the inquest; you're trying to railroad Weir to thegallows. "

"Mr. Sorenson shall know what you've said. As for me"--the Mexicanswelled with outraged dignity--"the evidence was placed in my hands. It warrants the engineer's arrest and trial. You attend to yourdepartment and I'll attend to mine. "

"All to the good, Mr. County Attorney. I'll arrest him; he won't makeme any trouble on that score. But you won't find it so easy to provehis guilt. And afterwards, just look out, for if he doesn't comegunning for you and fill your carcass full of lead, I miss my guess. You won't be able to hide behind Sorenson, either. "

He left the county attorney at that, the latter unable despite all hisefforts to hide his uneasiness and alarm. Madden reaching the streetlooked at his watch; it was half past five, so he started home forsupper. 

Some way before him he saw Martinez walking. The lawyer did not stopto converse with any of the loiterers along the street, but movedsteadily along. He had come out of Vorse's saloon and was goingtowards his office. Just then the sound of an automobile caused Maddento turn his head in time to see Weir speed along but stop with asudden application of brakes as he caught sight of the attorney. 

A hail brought Martinez to the car. A few minutes' rapid speech therefollowed. Then the lawyer mounted beside Weir, the machine went on, turning into a side street and vanishing. To Madden there was nothingunusual in the circumstance, and he only noted the surprise andsilence along the street at the engineer's passage. The Mexicans wouldknow the man wasn't yet arrested at any rate, he thought. But heshould like to learn what was the purpose in bringing them all totown! He would keep an eye open for any lynching nonsense if it wereattempted. 

Weir and Martinez were hastening to Judge Gordon's house, for shortlybefore the engineer had received an unexpected call from Pollock forhim to join him there. Evidently the eastern lawyer had turned a cardof some sort; and Weir had gone at once, wondering what the meetingmight portend. The sight of Martinez, free and composed of hearing, walking along the street, further amazed him. 

He perceived, however, when the lawyer stepped out to the car fromVorse's place that he was pale, his mouth tight-drawn and his eyesglittering. 

"You got my message?" the latter asked, quickly. 

"The telephone message, yes. Janet Hosmer got the paper also. "

"They dragged me to Vorse's cellar, " Martinez whispered fiercely. "They beat me with their fists, Vorse and Burkhardt. Then they tied meand squeezed my eyeballs till I could stand the pain no longer andtold. I've been there ever since, bound and without food or water, thedevils! Sorenson came with them last night, afterwards. And now he andVorse came again--there they are back there in the bar yet--and gaveme a draft on a Chicago bank for a thousand dollars and said to getout and stay out of New Mexico and never open my mouth about what hadhappened. "

"Get in with me, " Weir ordered. 

At Judge Gordon's house the lawyer said:

"You are going in here? He's one of them. "

"I know it. Come in, however. I may need you. You're not going toleave San Mateo, but there's no reason why you shouldn't cash thedraft. That's only part of the damages you'll make them pay for whatyou underwent. "

"It isn't money I want from them, " Martinez replied, between histeeth. 

Judge Gordon lived in a rambling adobe house two squares from theHosmer dwelling. It was old but had been kept in good repair, and ashe had never married he had lived comfortably enough with an oldMexican pair as servants. One of these, the woman, admitted thevisitors at their knock and conducted them, as if expected, to theJudge's study, a long room lined with cases of books, mostly legal, and filled with old-fashioned furniture. 

That something had occurred to change the Judge's aspect during thehours in which Pollock had been closeted with him was at onceapparent. He looked older, broken, haggard of face, terrified. 

"I met Mr. Martinez and brought him along, " Weir said. 

"Was that necessary?" Judge Gordon asked, heavily. 

"He's my attorney, for one thing. "

"And I've been a prisoner in Vorse's cellar for twenty-four hours foranother, and you're one of those responsible for my being there andfor the torture to which I was subjected, " Martinez exclaimed, glaring. 

"Mr. Martinez, I give you my word of honor that I knew nothing of yourincarceration until this morning. "

"That for your word of honor!" the lawyer cried, snapping his fingersin the air. "And in any case, you're an accessory after the fact. Youlet me stay. "

Pollock stepped forward. 

"Is this Mr. Martinez? Glad to meet you, sir. Mr. Weir has spoken veryfavorably of you and of your handling of legal matters for theirrigation company, of which I am a director. Pollock is my name. Areyou a notary? Ah, that is good. There will be some papers toacknowledge and witness and so on. "

He pointed at seats, seemingly having direction of matters, and thevisitors sat down. Judge Gordon had sagged down in the padded leatherchair in which he sat; his face was colorless, his eyes movingaimlessly to and fro, his white mustache and hair in disorder. 

"Let us begin on business at once, " Pollock stated, on his feet as wasusual when entering a discussion and removing his eye-glasses. "Icalled on Judge Gordon this afternoon after my talk with you, Weir, and disclosed the evidence which has been gathered relative to thefraud perpetrated on your father and the crime against the man Dent. Iassumed, and rightly, that to a man of the Judge's legal mind thefacts we hold would prove the futility of resistance, and I set out toconvince him of the wisdom of sparing himself a long losing fight, inwhich he would be opposing not only the evidence which was sure toconvict him, and not only you, Mr. Weir, but our company whichproposed to see the fight through. I went so far, Weir, as to promisehim immunity from your wrath and from public prosecution. "

Weir arose slowly. 

"No, " said he, "no. "

"But, my dear fellow----"

"No. He made my father's life a hell for thirty years. Why should Ispare him?"

"If granting him freedom from prosecution did actually spare himanything, I should say 'No' also, standing in your place. But with thefacts made public as they will be, with Judge Gordon losing hislegislative office and the esteem in which he had been held, with himrelinquishing the bulk of his fortune as he agrees, with his findingit necessary to go elsewhere to live at his time of life, with thethought constantly in his mind of how low he has been brought, don'tyou think he will be suffering quite adequately? I should think so. Hewould probably die quicker in prison, but I believe he will suffermore outside. See, I don't hesitate to measure the alternatives, forthe Judge and I have discussed and canvassed the whole situation, which was necessary, of course, in order to arrive at a clearunderstanding. " And Pollock smiled genially. 

"Does he admit my charges?"

"He hasn't denied them. "

"Will he admit them?"

"I've outlined exactly what we must have--deeds to his property and anacknowledged statement of the Joseph Weir and James Dent affair, supplementing the Saurez affidavit, which by the way he at firstthought we did not possess but which an account of what happened lastnight in the mountains and your recovery of the same"--Pollock'seyelid dropped for an instant towards Weir--"convinced him of. Thisstatement is not to be produced as evidence against his associatesexcept in the last extremity, and if not needed is always to be keptsecret. We are to give him, when the papers are signed, a draft forten thousand dollars. This will permit him to have something to liveon. He states that he will want to go from San Mateo at once. "

During this speech Weir's eyes had glanced to and fro between thelawyer ticking off his words with his glasses and the figure in theleather chair. Old and shattered as Judge Gordon had suddenly become, wretched as Weir saw him to be, the engineer nevertheless felt nopity. The man had been in the conspiracy that had ruined his father;he suffered now not because of remorse but through fear of publicopinion; and was a fox turned craven because he found himselfenmeshed in a net. And to save his own skin he was selling out hisfriends. 

Weir's face went dark, but Pollock quickly stepped forward and drewhim into a corner of the room. 

"Keep calm, man, " was the lawyer's low advice. "Do you think if we hadhim tied up as tightly as I've made him believe that I should proposea compromise in his case. He's the weak link. Do you think I've had aneasy time the last three hours bringing him to the point he's at? Ihad to invent evidence that couldn't possibly exist. I had to give hima merciless mental 'third degree. ' I told him if he refused I wasgoing to Sorenson with the same offer, who would jump at the chance. And, my dear man, we haven't, in reality, enough proof to convict amouse since you lost that paper. So now, so far as he's concerned, youmust bend a little, a very little--and you'll be able to hang theremaining three. "

This incisive reasoning was not to be denied. 

"I yield, " said Weir. 

Beaming, Mr. Pollock walked back to the table. 

"Mr. Weir consents, " he stated. "Mr. Martinez, if you will go to youroffice and bring the necessary forms and your seal we can make thetransfers and statement and wind the matter up. "

An hour later Judge Gordon had signed the deeds, stock certificatesfrom his safe and bills of sale spread before him, passing theownership of lands, cattle and shares in companies to Pollock forequitable division between Weir and the Dent heirs if found. The oldMexican servants were called in and witnessed his shaky signatures tothe papers. 

At the statement regarding the Dent shooting and Weir fraud, whichPollock had dictated to Martinez with Gordon's assistance, hestaggered to his feet while the pen dropped from his hand. 

"I can't sign it, I can't sign it; they would kill me!" he groaned. 

The two aged servants stared at him wonderingly. 

"My dear Judge, they'll never know of it until it's too late for themto do anything--if they ever know, " came the easterner's words, insmooth persuasiveness. 

Judge Gordon brushed a hand over his eyes. 

"Give me a moment, " he muttered. 

He stood for a time motionless. Then he walked across the room andopened a door and entered an inner chamber. 

"He won't live a year after this, " Pollock whispered to hiscompanions. 

The speaker could have shortened the time immensely and have stillbeen safe in his prophecy. For when at the end of five minutes he sentthe woman to request the Judge to return, she stumbled out of thebed-chamber with affrighted eyes. She said the Judge was asleep on hisbed and could not be aroused. 

Sleep of the profoundest, the men discovered on going in. And in hisfingers was an empty vial. So far as Judge Gordon was concerned Weirhad had his revenge. 

CHAPTER XXII

AN OLD ADOBE HOUSE

Revenge Weir had. But even in death Judge Gordon, true to his evasive, contriving character, had tricked him; and the irony lay in the factthat in this last act the trick was unpremeditated, unconscious, unintentional. Instead of the signed confession, necessary aboveeverything else, which seemed almost in his fingers, the man had lefta little poison vial. 

Night had settled over the earth when the three men, after directingthe Mexican servants to bring the undertaker, went out of the house, for considerable time had been occupied in the discussion and thepreparation of papers preceding Judge Gordon's tragic end. With himMr. Pollock carried the documents pertaining to the propertyrestitution. These, considered in connection with the suicide, wouldconstitute something like a confession, he grimly asserted. 

Avoiding the main street of San Mateo they drove out of the town forcamp. The first part of the ride was pursued in silence, for each wasbusy with his own thoughts in consequence of the sudden shockingtermination of the meeting. When about half way to camp, however, their attention was taken from the subject by a sight whollyunexpected, a scene of high colors and of a spirit that mocked at whathad just happened. 

Some way off from the road, at one side, two bonfires burned brightlybefore an adobe house, the flames leaping upward in the darkness andlighting the long low-roofed dwelling and the innumerable figures ofpersons. At the distance the place was from the highway, perhaps twohundred yards, one could make out only the shadowy forms of men--of aconsiderable number of men, at that. 

"I never saw any one at that old tumble-down house before, Martinez, "Weir remarked, lessening the speed of the car. "Always supposed itempty. "

"No one does live there. The ground belongs to Vorse, who leases itfor farming to Oterez. Perhaps Oterez is giving a party there. Theyare dancing. "

Weir brought the machine to a full stop, with suspicion rapidlygrowing in his mind. The place was owned by Vorse, for one thing, andthe number about the house was too large for an ordinary Mexicanfamily merry-making, for another. In view of what had occurred theprevious night all "parties" in the neighborhood of the dam deservedinquiry, and this house was but a mile from camp. 

They could now hear the sound of music, the shrill quick scrap of apair of fiddles and the notes of guitars. Against the fire-light toothey could distinguish the whirl of skirts. 

"Just run over there, will you, Martinez, and have a look at thatdance?" Weir said. "See how much whiskey is there, and who the peopleare. "

The Mexican jumped down, climbed through the barb-wire fence borderingthe field and disappeared towards the house. 

"I told you about some one giving the men booze last night, " theengineer addressed his remaining companion. "We found the place offsouth along the hills where that business happened, and stationed aman there to warn us if another attempt was made to use the spot. ButI shouldn't be surprised if this is the location used for to-night;it has all the signs. We suspected that this evening would be the realblow-out and if the men are going there I shall send down the foremenand engineers to break it up. Vorse's owning this house and his beingthe source of the liquor is almost proof. I met Atkinson returning tothe dam when you sent him back from town and he'll know something isup if the workmen have been melting away from camp. This is simplyanother damnably treacherous move of the gang against us to interferewith our work, starting a big drunk and perhaps a row. We'll stop itright at the beginning. "

"Are the officials of this county so completely under Sorenson and hiscrowd's thumbs that they won't move in a case like this?" Pollockquestioned. 

"Yes. "

"Then we must act on our own initiative, as you say. "

"That's our only recourse. Giving whiskey isn't actually an illegalact--and they're giving it away, not trying to sell it here without agovernment licence. "

"The thing's illegal if it's part of a conspiracy to disrupt our work, and if we can secure proof that such is the fact it will but add onemore item to the score to be settled with these San Mateo outlaws. "

"There are more men going there. See them?" Weir asked. "You hear themon the road ahead of us. They're ducking through the fence andcrossing to the house. Our workmen. The thing's plain now; they hadword there would be another 'party' to-night, but they didn't knowjust where until they received word this evening. I suppose the wholecamp except a few men will be here. "

"Won't they turn ugly if you interfere?"

"Can't help that. I'll send men down with axes and when the booze ispoured on the ground it makes no difference then; the men will be keptsober. If they are stubborn, I'll run a new bunch in and fire thesefellows. But I don't imagine they will quit work, however surly, forthey know whiskey's no excuse. Men usually cool down after a night'ssleep. "

From where they sat and since Weir had turned out his car lamps, theycould see the steady string of men emerging from the darkness of thefield and approaching the house, to quickly dissolve in the gatheringalready there. In their lively steps, as well as in the eager voicesoccasionally raised along the dark road, the men's desire to join inthe debauch was apparent. 

With the swelling of the crowd the scraping of the fiddles becamelouder, the dancing more furious, shouts and yells more frequent, while a dense line of men passing and jamming in and out of the doorpointed only too plainly that inside the house liquor flowed. Thiswould be no matter of a few drinks per man, but a big drunk if notstopped. 

Martinez confirmed this opinion on his return. 

"There are two barrels inside and a couple of fellows are dipping itup in tin cups like water, " said he. "They're not even troubling todraw the stuff; the barrels have been placed on end and the headsknocked out. It will be the biggest spree San Mateo ever saw, withplenty of fighting after awhile. Women, you know, always start fightsduring a spree. "

"Those surely are not women from town, " Weir exclaimed. 

"Oh, no. I never saw them before. Brought in here from somewhere--SantaFé perhaps, El Paso more likely. You know the kind who would mix withthat crowd--tough girls. They're wearing low necks and short skirts, red stockings and all that. You know the kind. Out of joints and divessomewhere. There's only a dozen, but they keep circulating and dancingwith different ones. I just put my head through a window to look inside, which is lighted by a big kerosene lamp hanging from the roof; and Itell you, gentlemen, it made me sick the way those two fellows weredipping up whiskey and the crowd drinking it down. "

"And more men coming all the time, " Weir stated. 

"And more coming, yes. It will be very bad there by midnight. Vorseand Burkhardt and Sorenson are managing the thing, of course. "Martinez lighted a cigarette and stepped into the car. "No mistakeabout that, for Vorse's bartender is one of the men at the barrels. And I imagine Judge Gordon knew this thing was coming off though hemade no mention of it. "

"Since we were ignorant of the matter, he naturally wouldn't informus, " Pollock remarked, dryly. 

"Time to put a stop to the show before it grows bad, " Weir statedresolutely. And he started the machine. 

"If it can be stopped, " Martinez replied. 

That was the question, whether or not now it would be possible even toreach and destroy the barrels inside the house, what with the numberswho would oppose the move and what with the state of intoxication thatmust rapidly prevail at the place. 

For as they drove away they could already detect in the mad revelabout the old adobe dwelling a faster beat in the sharp shriekingmusic, a wilder abandon in the movements of the figures about theflames, a more reckless, fiercer note in the cries and oaths. 

"This is deviltry wholesale, " Pollock said. "On a grand scale, onemight put it. "

So thought a horseman who approached and halted almost at the samespot where the car had rested. This was Madden who with a warrant forWeir's arrest in his pocket had arrived opposite the house a momentafter the automobile's departure. He had secured the warrant at eighto'clock according to the county attorney's request, but he had takenhis own time about setting off to serve it. 

For a quarter of a mile he had been interested in the evidences ofunwonted hilarity at the usually untenanted structure. Now he sat inhis saddle, silent and motionless, observing the distant scene. Heeasily guessed the men were from the construction camp and that liquorwas running. 

"I can almost smell it here, Dick, " he addressed his horse. 

But two circumstances puzzled him. One was that there had been no newsin town of such a big affair impending for the night; the second, thatthere were women present--for no Mexican, however ignorant, would takeor allow his women folks to attend such a howling show. Coming on topof the crowd in town, he wondered if this business might not be linkedup with Weir's affairs. These were his workmen and this was Vorse'sfarm-house and very likely Vorse's liquor. After he had arrested theengineer he would look into the thing. 

Fifteen minutes later, when he had gone on, other passers-by pausedfor a minute on the road to stare at the amazing picture across thefield. These were Dr. Hosmer and Janet, Johnson and his daughter Mary:the two men being in the doctor's car, the two girls in Janet'srunabout. 

"What on earth is going on there!" Janet exclaimed, when the twomachines had pulled up. 

The two fires, fed by fresh fuel, were leaping higher than ever, bringing out in strong relief the long squat building, the dark, restless, noisy throng, and the space of illuminated earth. Againstthe night the flames and building and mob of hundreds of men seemed acrimson vision from some inferno to an accompaniment of mad music. 

"The camp's gone on a tear; drive ahead, " her father said. "This isn'ta sight for you girls to look at. "

And with that the two cars sped forward towards the dam, where on thisnight so much was converging. For their occupants already had had anexperience that had started them at once to seek the man around whosefigure were swirling a hundred passions and dark currents of destiny. 

CHAPTER XXIII

WITH FANGS BARED

That Sunday afternoon Janet Hosmer had awakened about sunset from anafter-dinner sleep, rested and refreshed, with her mind continuing tobe occupied by thoughts of Steele Weir about whom had eddied herdreams. The man was no longer the mystery he had been, since now sheknew all the circumstances of his life, and on that account wasnearer, more human, and yet as compelling. 

That on his part his interest went beyond mere friendship she hadrecognized from his voice and eyes when they were together. Ah, intruth, how his tones deepened and his look betrayed his feelings! Atthe thought Janet's heart beat faster and her cheeks grew warm and anindefinable joy seemed to fill her breast. She would not deny it: hispresence, his touch gave her a greater happiness than she had everknown. At a single stride, as it were, he had come into the middle ofher life and dominated her mind and changed her whole outlook. 

How he too had changed and grown in the coming! From the avaricious, calculating, heartless manager of the construction work, as she seeingthrough colored San Mateo eyes had believed him to be, he now stoodforth a figure of power, undaunted by difficulties, undismayed byenemies however numerous, fearless to a fault, stern perhaps--but whowould not have been made stern in his place?--and determined, cool, resourceful, alert, and of an integrity as firm and upright as amarble shaft. Yet beneath this exterior his heart was quick and tenderfor those who needed sympathy or help, and his hand swift to aid. 

More than once a hot flush burned on Janet's face, as sitting there onthe vine-hung veranda in the gathering dusk, recollection assailed herwith memories of wasted kindnesses given the infamous Ed Sorenson, oftrust bestowed and of love plighted. That passage in her life seemedto leave her contaminated forever. It burned in her soul like adisgrace or a dishonorable act. But Steele Weir--and she swam inglorious ether at the thought--did not appear to view it in thatlight. 

Juanita running in the twilight to the house interrupted herintrospection. 

"I came to tell you, " the Mexican girl exclaimed panting beforeJanet. 

"Tell me what?" For Juanita's reappearance in itself was unusual, asSunday afternoon and evening were her own to spend at home. 

"People are saying Mr. Weir is to be arrested and hanged from a treein the court house yard! Everybody has come to town to see. Threeuncles and aunts and nine cousins of ours have already come to ourhouse from where they live four miles down the river. All the town istalking about it. But though I said nothing, I knew how Mr. Weir hadsaved you and that he had done nothing to be hanged for. If anybody isto be killed it ought to be that Ed Sorenson. "

"Are you sure of this, Juanita?"

"Yes, yes, Miss Janet. It is so. "

"Then this is part of the plot against him; let me think. They mightarrest him but they would never dare try to hang him, unless theycould pretend----"

What they might pretend Janet never stated, as at that instant a motorcar dashed up and stopped before the gate. Even in the gloom she madeout that the figure garbed in a gray dust coat was Sorenson's. Springing out of the machine, he jerked the gate open and strodetowards the house, while a premonition of a fresh and unpleasant turnof affairs quivered in Janet's mind. 

"I've come back again, you see, " he said. "Step inside where you canhear what I have to say. "

The words were like an order; the man's manner, indeed, wasoverbearing and brutal. But the girl concealing her resentment, preceded him into the house and bade Juanita light a lamp. 

"And now you get out!" Sorenson commanded the servant in so savage atone that she fled to the kitchen without waiting to consult Janet'seyes. "I see your father isn't here, " he continued, addressing Janet. 

The latter made no reply. To be sure, Dr. Hosmer was not in the roombut he was in the house, sleeping. Let the cattleman think him absentif he wished. 

"So much the better; if he's not about, he won't try to interfere, "the man went on. "Now, my girl, I've learned all about your tricks, and----"

"Sir, you talk like that to me in my own house!" Janet broke in, witha flash of eyes. "You will walk out of that door this instant andnever set foot here again. "

"Will I, you slippery young Jezebel? I'll do nothing of the kind untilI'm ready, which will be when you've handed over that paper. Don't tryto deny that you have it or Weir has it; I suppose he has now, andI'll be forced to go shoot him down as he deserves. But I came herefirst to make sure. It would be just like the rest of the schemes ofyou two to have you keep it, thinking I'd be fooled. I have half anotion to wring your white neck for lying to me to-day--lying, whileall the time you knew my son was hanging between life and death. "

So savage was his voice, so threatening his visage and air that Janetretreated a step. His hands worked as if he actually felt her softthroat in his clutch; his huge body and big beefy head swayed towardsher ominously; while his eyes carried a baleful light that revealed infull intensity the man's real brutal soul. Hitherto carefully coatedin an appearance of respectability fitted to a station of wealth, influence and prominence, he now stood as he truly was, domineering, repellant, lawless. Janet could at that minute measure the closekinship of father and son. 

"Fortunately a man in Bowenville recognized Ed, or I should never haveknown he had been injured, " Sorenson went on. "So your little schemeto keep me in ignorance went wrong. The doctor 'phoned me about fiveand I took my wife and we rushed there, and I have just this instantreturned. Do you know what the doctor says? Ed will live, but be alife cripple, a useless wreck, a bundle of smashed bones, alwayssitting in a chair, always eating out his heart. And all because ofyou and that engineer! Ed was conscious; he told me the real storyabout which you lied, ----"

"I did not lie, " Janet stated, firmly. 

Sorenson made an angry gesture as if to sweep aside this declaration. 

"He told me how you promised to slip away with him to spend a week inthe mountains, and how you warned this Weir so that the two of youcould trick my son and get him out of the way. You, who alwayspretended to be so innocent and virtuous! And then Weir caused theaccident up there in the hills that has crippled my boy for life! Didit to get him out of the path to you, and you helped, like thetraitress you are; and the two of you took the paper. "

Janet's form had stiffened at these insulting speeches. 

"Your son is the liar, " said she. "Did he tell you how he flung ablanket over my head as Juanita and I were coming out of Martinez'office? How he tied my hands and feet and carried me off like avictim--and victim he intended me to be! Yes, Mr. Weir rescued mebecause Juanita met and told him what had happened and he followed. Your son was drunk. He tried to commit a crime because I had rejectedhim a week before, on learning that during our engagement he hadendeavored to mislead another girl. A drunkard and a criminal both, that's your son. And he alone brought on his accident by his drunken, reckless driving. Now I've told you the truth; leave the house!"

"You can't put that kind of a story over on me, " he snarled. "Ibelieve what Ed said. Even if he has had affairs with other girls, that makes no difference now. You tried to double-cross him; you'vewrecked his body and life; and you shall pay for it. "

Neither of the pair in their intense excitement had heard a wagondrive to a stop before the house. Whether in fact they would haveheard a peal of thunder might be a question. Sorenson, enraged by hisson's injury and burning for revenge, was oblivious to all else buthis passion, while Janet Hosmer, divided between contempt and fear, had but the single thought of ridding herself of the man. 

"You cannot injure me, " she said, in reply to his savage utterance. 

"I'll drive you and your father out of this town and this state, " heexclaimed. "They shall know here in San Mateo, and wherever you go ifit's in my power to reach there, what sort of a pretending, double-faced, disreputable wanton----"

"You coward!" Janet burst out. 

Then she turned to flee out of the room to arouse her father. ButSorenson was too quick for her; he sprang forward and seized one ofher wrists. 

"No you don't, you perfumed wench!" he growled. 

A scream formed on Janet's lips. The heavy, rage-crimsoned face bentover her as if to kill her by its very nearness. Brute the man was, and as a brute he appeared determined she should feel his power. Shepulled back, jerking to free herself, and shrieked. 

Intervention came from an unexpected quarter. Rushing into the roomcame the rancher Johnson, followed by his daughter. 

"Let go of her, " the man ordered, harshly. 

Sorenson looked about over his shoulder. 

"Keep out of this, and get out, " he answered. 

Johnson leaped forward and struck the other on the jaw. The cattlemanreleasing his hold on Janet staggered back, at the same time thrustinga hand under his coat. 

But the rancher's pistol was whipped forth first. 

"You'd try that game, would you?" Johnson said, with his ragged beardout-thrust and stiff. "Put up your hands; I want to see how they looksticking up over your head. "

Sorenson though now holding them in sight did not at once comply. 

"Johnson, you're butting into something that doesn't concern you, " hesaid, endeavoring to speak calmly. 

"You've made one mistake in striking me; don't make another by keepingthat gun pointed at my head. Remember I've a mortgage on your placethat you'll wish renewed one of these days. "

The expression of scorn on the rancher's face was complete. 

"Trying that line, are you?" he sneered. "Think you can play themoney-lender now and scare me? You didn't look much like a bankerreaching for your gun; you just looked like a killer then, a plainbar-room killer--but I beat you to the draw. You've got fat and slow, haven't you, since early days when you use to put lead into poordevils whose stuff you wanted. And you didn't look like a banker tome, either, trying to bulldoze Janet when I came in; you looked likethe big dirty coward you are. Aha, here's the doctor! Now just tellhim how it comes you can order me out of his house, and why you werethreatening Janet and making her scream. "

The physician turned a white, angry countenance to Sorenson. 

"I heard the scream. Is it true you were abusing my daughter?" hedemanded, stepping in front of the man. 

"I came here because I learned my son Ed had been broken to bitsthrough her trickery and damnable----"

The words were cut off by the doctor's hand which smote theblasphemous lips uttering them. 

Even more than Johnson's blow did this slap upon the mouth enrage thecattleman. His face became congested, his shoulders heaved, but behindthe doctor was the revolver still directed at his head. 

"You've come here uninvited and you've said too much, " Doctor Hosmerstated in cold even tones. "You may be the town magnate, but you'reonly a ruffian and a crook after all. You can't bluff or bully us. More than that, you've insulted my daughter and me beyond any futurereparation. As for your son, he got less than he deserved. " He turnedto the rancher. "You came just in time, it seems. Please see that heleaves the house. "

Johnson waved with his gun significantly towards the door. 

"Move right along lively, " he added. "And I'll go along with you tosee that you don't hamstring my horses, which I don't put past anunderhanded cattle-thief like you. "

Sorenson seemed striving for words that would adequately blast thosebefore him, but they appeared lacking. With a last malignant glare hewalked out upon the veranda and down across the yard, with his guardfollowing him. 

When Johnson returned after Sorenson's departure in his car, he wasgrinning sardonically. 

"I shouldn't want him running among my cattle; he'd bite 'em and give'em the rabies, " he remarked. 

Janet caught and pressed his toil-roughened hand. 

"You'll never know how much I thank you for coming in just when youdid, " she cried. 

"Pshaw, your father would have showed up and stopped him. "

"I'm not so sure. Father has no weapon, and that man did have one. Itwas the sight of your pistol that made him cower. You couldn't havechosen a more lucky minute to arrive. "

"Well, it was a little bit timely, as it turned out. Considering toothat we were coming to see you anyway, it was just as well to walk inwhen we could do some good. Mary has something for you to read, if youread Spanish. "

"Yes, I do. "

"That's good. Show 'em what you have, daughter. "

Mary drew a knotted handkerchief from her bosom and undid the knots. Appeared the doubled paper she had found. This she passed to Janet. 

"Why, --why, this is the document I had!" the latter exclaimed, joyfully. "Where did you find it?"

"Up by the smashed automobile, when father and I were at the cabin. "She exchanged a guarded look with her father. "There are names in itthat made me think it might be valuable. So when father came back fromBowenville I showed it to him. But neither of us could read it. Wethought we'd better bring it to you to read. "

"It is valuable, very valuable. I had it when I was seized by EdSorenson and he took it away from me. Evidently, then, it fell fromhis pocket at the time of the accident. Yes, indeed, it's important. It means everything to certain parties. I'll read it, but youunderstand what it tells is private at present. "

"We understand--and I think I know what it's going to say, " Johnsonremarked, grimly. 

Thereupon while the others listened Janet read a translation of thelong document. To her and her father the facts were not new, for Weirhad already related such as he knew of the happenings in Vorse'ssaloon on that eventful day thirty years previous. Nor for that matterwere they strange to Johnson and his daughter, though of courseneither Janet nor her father were aware of the rancher's more intimateknowledge of the subject. 

"A pretty good story as far as it goes, but like all lawyers' paperslong-winded, " Johnson stated, critically. 

"What do you mean, far as it goes?" Janet asked, curiously. "Did youknow this old Mexican? Did you ever hear him tell about the thing?"

"I knew he was there at the time, but he never told me anything. "

Here Dr. Hosmer spoke. 

"Saurez died yesterday. It must have been shortly after he made thisdeposition. He died in Vorse's saloon, which gives a color ofsuspicion to his death. In addition, Martinez, as you know, wasdragged away somewhere. "

"Then Vorse learned old Saurez had blabbed, and killed him, " Johnsonsaid, in a convinced tone. "Vorse is a bad bird, I want to say. But soare all of them, Sorenson, Burkhardt and Judge Gordon as well. "

Janet brought the talk back to the subject. 

"You make me still wonder, Mr. Johnson, " she said. "You seemed tothink there's more to the account than is told in this paper. "

Again the rancher and his daughter glanced at each other, hesitatingly. 

"Tell them, father, " Mary broke forth all at once. "They know thismuch, and you know you can trust them. "

The man, however, shook his head with a certain dogged purpose. 

"If this is just a paper in some trifling lawsuit or other, it will bebetter if I keep my own counsel, " he stated. "I've riled Sorensonconsiderable as it is now, and I don't care particularly about havinghim gunning on my trail active-like. If it really mattered----"

"It does matter; it matters everything, " Janet cried, "if you reallyknow something more!"

"Why?"

"Because it concerns Mr. Weir. The Joseph Weir described and named inthis affidavit was his father. He believes these men robbed hisfather; this paper proves it, but not absolutely, for Mexican evidencehere in this country doesn't carry as much weight against whitemen--especially men as rich and strong as these named--as it would inother places perhaps. You know that. This paper was obtained for Mr. Weir. "

"Oho, so that's the way of it!" Johnson said, with a long drawn-outtone. 

He regarded the paper in silence for a time, busy with his thoughts, absently twisting his beard, until at length a look of satisfactiongrew on his face. 

"Well, well, this is fine, " he went on presently. "I never thought Ishould be able to pay the obligation I owe him, and I won't fully atthat, but this will help. No, that paper doesn't tell all, for Ireckon Saurez didn't see all. " He glanced triumphantly at the doctorand the girl. "But I did. "

"You!" both exclaimed. 

But before he could explain, the memory of the cattleman's threatrecurred to Janet to banish thoughts of aught else than Weir's dangerfrom her mind. 

"Mr. Sorenson said he was going up to the dam to shoot Mr. Weir, " sheexclaimed. "We must give warning. "

"Did he say he was going himself?" Johnson asked. 

"To get the paper, yes. " Then Janet continued anxiously. "But thepaper isn't all. His son told him what occurred in the mountains and Ibelieve the man wants to harm Mr. Weir as well as to obtain the paper. Perhaps he plans on gaining the document first, then killing him. Inany case, we must put Mr. Weir on guard. "

"I'll just drive up there and tell the engineer, " Johnson stated. "Shouldn't be surprised if I got a chance yet to use my gun. You girlscan stay here. "

Janet gazed at him with a flushing face. 

"The man could go to the dam and kill Mr. Weir and get safely homewhile you're starting with your team, " said she. "No, we must drivethere in a car. Father, you take Mr. Johnson in yours, and I'll carryMary in mine. We'll go along of course, for we'll not remain here inthe cottage alone with such terrible things happening in San Mateo. "

And to this there was no dissent. 

CHAPTER XXIV

THE ALARM

At the dam Weir found Meyers and Atkinson anxiously waiting hisreturn. The sudden concerted melting away of workmen from camp hadbeen warning to his subordinates that the danger of a general spreehad taken definite form, which the report of a pair of young engineersconfirmed when they followed a group of laborers to the old adobehouse and beheld the beginning of the debauch. 

"Get out all the staff, Meyers, and you, Atkinson, all the foremen andsober men left, then go down the road and put that joint out ofbusiness, taking axes and whatever is necessary. "

"And if they fight?" Meyers asked. 

"Try first to placate them. If that fails, some of you draw them offin order to permit the others to enter the house and destroy thewhiskey. It's a tough job, but you may succeed. If the crowd turnsugly as it may, being drunk, come back. No need to take the risk ofbroken heads or being beaten up. See, however, if you can't outwit theoutfit. Possibly you could push that mud house over from the rear bymeans of a beam; that would do the business. I leave it to you todecide what's best to do, men, after you've examined the situation. "

"The camp will be unguarded except for you and the two men with you, "Weir's assistant suggested. "If the crowd drinking down at that placeshould take the notion to come here and tear things up, there wouldbe nothing to hinder them. A few should stay, anyway, I imagine--halfa dozen, who can use guns. "

"Well, pick out six to remain, " the other agreed. 

For Meyers' suggestion had raised a disagreeable possibility. It wasnever safe to ignore precautions when a gang of two or three hundredrough, active laborers, however loyal when sober, were madeirresponsible and crazy by liquor; and one stage of drunkenness insuch men was usually manifested in a wild desire for violence. Thescheme of Weir's enemies might comprise using this very act forwrecking the camp. 

Six men, to be sure, would offer little resistance to stemming themovement once it was started, but the sight of steel in the guards'hands might cause even a reckless mob to pause long enough for anappeal. If the men should be brought to listen, they could probably bediverted from their purpose, as impassioned crowds are easily swayedby men of force. 

In any case the camp and dam should be defended to the last. That wentwithout saying. 

Meyers and Atkinson had little more than departed with their muster ofengineers, foremen and sober workmen, some fifty in all, when the twocars driven by Dr. Hosmer and Janet arrived at headquarters. To theoccupants of both machines the camp appeared singularly dark andsilent, the office building and the commissary shack alone showinglights. 

The four visitors entered the main room in the former building, wherethey found Mr. Pollock and Martinez. 

"Mr. Weir stepped out for a moment to make a round of the camp and thehorse corrals, " the easterner replied in answer to an inquiry from thedoctor. "Will you be seated?" And he politely placed chairs for Janetand Mary, while his look scrutinized the party with discreetinterest. 

"Oh, Mr. Martinez, you've escaped!" Janet exclaimed, after a surprisedstare at the lawyer. 

The Mexican smiled, bowed and drew one point of his black mustachethrough his fingers. 

"I have indeed, Miss Janet, " said he. "Not without an unpleasantexperience, however. I understand you secured the paper concerningwhich I telephoned you, and though I understand it has since beenlost--through no fault of yours--I desire to express my thanks foryour excellent assistance in the matter. "

"But it has been found again; we have it with us. "

Martinez gave a start, none the less sincere for being dramatic. 

"What! Saurez' deposition? Weir thought it burned. Why, this is themost wonderful luck in the world! It gives us the whip-hand again. "

Janet nodded. 

"Mary Johnson here found it in a crack in the rocks when she and herfather went up to the cabin to bring Ed Sorenson down. Father has it. That's one reason we're here. But there's another; Mr. Sorenson haslearned of his son's accident, has seen him, talked with him, beentold lies and now is in a dreadful rage, threatening every oneconcerned. He was at our house and made a scene. He's coming here, orso he said, to kill Mr. Weir and obtain the document. So we hurried tothe dam to give warning. "

At this juncture Mr. Pollock stepped forward. 

"Mr. Sorenson hasn't yet appeared, and I assure you he will beprevented from harming any one if he comes. You are Miss Janet Hosmer, I judge, of whom I've heard so much that is praiseworthy. Will youallow me to introduce myself? I'm Mr. Pollock, a company director, and to a degree in Mr. Weir's confidence. "

Janet expressed her pleasure at his acquaintance and in turnintroduced her father and the Johnsons. 

"Mr. Weir spoke of you to us, but we weren't aware he had informed youof the paper. " Then she added, "But he would wish to, naturally. "

Weir's voice, without, in conversation with some one caused them allto look towards the door. In the panel of light falling on thedarkness before the house they perceived the engineer's tall figure bya horse, from which the rider was dismounting. Letting the reins dragand leaving the horse to stand, the latter walked with Weir into theroom. 

"Why, this is a delightful surprise!" the engineer exclaimed onbeholding the four who had come while he was out. "And unexpected. "His eyes rapidly interrogated the different faces. "I suppose it'sbusiness, not pleasure, that brings you. "

"That's so, " said Johnson, the rancher, nodding. 

"Well, Madden is here on business, too, it seems. " He glanced at Mr. Pollock. "Mr. Madden is our sheriff and he has a warrant for myarrest. " He turned back to the officer. "You come at a bad time for myaffairs. You saw that big show at the old house half way down theroad? That crowd is made up of my workmen, who are being entertainedwith free whiskey, and there's no telling but what they may come hereto tear things up. The whiskey is furnished by Vorse, I suspect, andis being served at Vorse's place. Your warrant is inspired by Vorseand others, isn't it? The two circumstances coming at the same moment, the free drunk and my arrest, look fishy to me. What do you think? I'min charge of a property here representing a good deal of money and Ishould hate to be absent if the men took the idea into their heads toturn the camp upside down, especially if the idea was inspired byVorse and his friends. "

"I haven't served the warrant yet, " Madden replied. 

"And you know that I'm not going to skip the country at the prospectof your serving it?"

"No. There's no hurry; I'll just sit around for a while. Andunderstand, Weir, this arrest is none of my doings, except officially. I take no stock in the yarn about your having attacked the greaser youkilled. Martinez' and Miss Janet's testimony at the inquest satisfiedme in that respect. "

Mr. Pollock now drew Weir aside for a whispered conference. When theyrejoined the others the engineer made the lawyer acquainted with thesheriff. 

"Mr. Weir has agreed to my suggestion to take you into our confidence, Mr. Madden, " he stated. "There may be other warrants for you to servesoon, and I'm sure you will respect what we reveal. All of us hereexcept you know the facts I'm about to relate; indeed, have shared inthem to an extent; and in addition to our word we'll present proof. You know Dr. Hosmer and his daughter certainly, you probably know Mr. Johnson and the young lady with him, and are aware whether theirstatements are to be relied on. "

"They are, " Madden answered, without hesitation. 

"You're already convinced of the truth of Weir's innocence in thecharge of murder now being preferred against him. Well, now, a friendat court is worth something; and we propose to make you that friend. "

"I'm not against him like most of the town, anyway, " was the sheriff'sanswer. 

"Go ahead with your explanation, " Pollock said to the engineer. 

Thereupon Weir briefly sketched out events for the officer as they hadoccurred and as showing the motives which had inspired his enemies inseeking to destroy him:--the original plot against his father, hisdetermination to uncover the four conspirators, the episode at therestaurant in Bowenville, the discovery of Ed Sorenson as the hirer ofthe dead Mexican assassin, the obtaining of Saurez' deposition andMartinez' imprisonment in Vorse's saloon cellar, Janet's abduction andrescue and the loss of the paper. 

"But the paper isn't lost, " Dr. Hosmer interrupted. "Mary Johnsonfound it and here it is. " With which he drew the crumpled documentfrom his breast pocket and laid it on the table. 

"You have it again!" Weir exclaimed. "You found it, Mary!" He steppedforward and took the girl's hand in his for a moment. "You're a friendindeed to bring this back to me. "

"I owed you more than that, " she said, coloring. 

"But Mr. Sorenson has learned about his son and the paper andeverything that happened, except Ed Sorenson told him lies instead ofthe truth, " Janet put in. "He's terribly angry at all of us. He saidhe would kill you for crippling Ed. "

"Sorenson is welcome to try, " Weir responded, with a quick blaze inhis eyes. 

At this point Mr. Pollock interposed. 

"You didn't finish your story, Weir. Relate for Mr. Madden's benefitwhat occurred at Judge Gordon's house. "

This tragic conclusion to the afternoon's happenings the engineertold, though remarking that the company director should be the truenarrator. At his announcement that Judge Gordon had taken his own lifeby poison his listeners remained dumbfounded. 

"He's dead, then?" Madden asked, at last. 

"Yes. And the transfer of property made to Mr. Pollock amounts to anacknowledgment of his guilt. Now, I should like to have Martinez readthis deposition, for I've never heard its contents myself. "

This the Mexican did, translating the Spanish paragraphs into Englishwith fluent ease, ending by reading the list of witnesses. Martinezgave the paper a slap of his hand. 

"And old Saurez was found dead in Vorse's saloon by me an hour afterhe had signed this, " he said. "Draw your own conclusions. "

Madden shifted on his seat. He glanced at the document and at theothers and then gazed out the door at the darkness. 

"Looks like a clear case; I always imagined if these men's past wasdug into there would be a lot of crooked business turned up. Butgranting that everything is as shown, with Lucerio the county attorneyunder Sorenson's thumb and the community as it is there's a questionif Saurez' statement even will be enough to convict them. "

At that Janet jumped up, her eyes gleaming. 

"That is not all the proof, not all by any means!" she cried. 

"What more is there?"

"Mr. Johnson's evidence. "

"Johnson's!" came in surprised tones from all four of the menuninformed of the rancher's story. 

"Yes, he saw the man Dent killed and the plotters make your father, Mr. Weir, believe he had done the killing. "

Steele stared at Johnson dumbfounded. 

"Just that; I saw the whole dirty trick worked, looking through theback door of the saloon. "

"Then you were the boy!" Weir gasped. "The boy who looked in! Afterthirty years I supposed that boy gone, lost, vanished beyondfinding. "

"I stayed right here, " was the reply. "Of course I kept my mouth shutabout what I had seen. I worked on ranches and rode range and at lastgot the little place on Terry Creek and married. Nothing strange in myremaining in the country where I grew up, especially as I only knewthe cattle business. "

Weir swung about to Madden. 

"Here's a live witness, " said he. "With the other proof his evidenceshould be final. "

"Whenever you say, I'll arrest the men. As for this warrant I have, I'll just continue to carry it in my pocket, " the sheriff stated. "Imust remark that I never heard of a more villainous plot, taking itall around, than you've brought to light. "

"And the charges must cover everything, " Pollock said sternly. "FromDent's murder to the conspiracy against the irrigation company. "

"I'll stay here in case you need me to stop any trouble with yourworkmen, " Madden remarked. 

But trouble though imminent was coming from another direction, as wassuddenly shown when a man, dust-covered and hatless, rushed into theoffice. 

"They're on the way, " he cried. 

"Who? The workmen?" Weir demanded. 

"No. I don't know anything about the workmen, but a bunch of Mexicans, fifty or more, are headed this way to blow up the dam. I saw and heardthem. "

"Where?"

"At the spring a mile south. I was watching down there, where Atkinsonhad sent me after supper, relieving the man who kept lookout duringthe afternoon. That was where the booze was dealt out last night, youremember. I was sitting there when I heard a crowd coming. At first Ithought it was our men, but when they stopped to drink and smoke, Isaw by their talk they were Mexicans. But there was one white man withthem, a leader. He and a Mexican talked in English. They're to raidthe camp, crawling up the canyon, to dynamite the dam first, then firethe buildings. "

"Then they're on the road here now?"

"Yes. " The speaker licked his lips. "I cut along the hillside until Igot ahead of them, but it was slow going in the dark and stumblingthrough the sage. They must be close at hand by this time, though Icame faster than they did. The white man said to the Mexican that theywanted to reach the dam just at moonrise, and that will be prettyquick now. "

"Go to the bunk-house and call the men waiting there, and get a gunyourself, " Weir ordered. "The storekeeper will give you one. " When themessenger had darted out, he looked at the others. "You must takethese girls away from here, doctor, at once. "

"But I don't go, " Johnson snapped forth, drawing his revolver andgiving the cylinder a spin. 

"I never could hit anything, and haven't had a firearm in my hand foryears, but I can try, " Pollock stated. "This promises to beinteresting, very interesting. "

"Very, " said Weir. 

For a little he stood in thought, while the others gazed at himwithout speaking. His straight body seemed to gather strength andpower before their eyes, his clean-cut features to become hard andmasterful. 

"Up the canyon he said they were coming, didn't he?" he remarked atlast, more to himself than to them. "Very well, so much the better. Johnson, you and Madden take charge of the men when they come and linethem along the hillside this side of the dam. Put out all lights. "With which he strode out of the building. 

They looked after him in uncertainty. 

"I'm not going; you may be hurt, and need me, " Mary stated, with astubborn note in her voice. 

"Then keep out of reach--and run for town if the ruffians get intocamp, " was her father's answer. 

"I stay too, " Janet exclaimed, resolutely. 

CHAPTER XXV

NO QUARTER

The peril threatening the unfinished dam now alone engaged SteeleWeir's mind. Personal considerations did not enter into hiscalculations, least of all thought of personal danger; for when heplaced himself in an undertaking whatever rested under his hand, as inthis case the irrigation company's property, became for him a trust toattend, to direct, to guard. Even more than if it had been his ownproperty did he feel the obligation, for the interests concerned werenot his. But the matter went deeper than a prospective money loss; itstruck down to principles and rights--the principles of order andindustry as against viciousness and havoc; the rights of law-abidingmen who create as against the wantonness of lawless men who woulddestroy. 

Were it his own workmen who, inflamed by drink and incited by a spiritof recklessness, were coming to wreck the camp in a moment of madintoxication, he would have made allowances for the cause. Beforeresorting to extreme measures in defending his charge, he first wouldhave sought to bring them to their senses. Drunken men are menunbalanced, irrational. 

But here was another case: an attack by a secret, sober, malevolentband, who in cold blood approached to demolish the company works. Notliquor moved them on their mission, but money--money paid by his archenemies. The men were simply hired tools, brazenly indifferent nodoubt to crimes, desperate in character certainly, for a handful ofcoins ready to wipe out a million dollars' worth of property andeffort. Such deserved no consideration or quarter. 

Weir proposed to give none. With enemies of this kind he had but onepolicy, strike first and strike with deadly force. One does not seekto dissuade a rattlesnake; one promptly stamps it under heel. Onecannot compromise with ravenous wolves; one shoots them down. One doesnot wait to see how far a treacherous foe will go; one forestalls andcrushes him before he begins. Moreover, if wise, one does it in suchfashion that the enemy will not arise from the blow. 

With the information given him by the guard posted at the spring Weirimmediately grasped the true nature of the plot. The "whiskey party"was but a means of withdrawing the workmen from the scene, ofweakening the camp, while a picked company of ruffians wrecked theproperty. It was an assault intended to wipe out the works and endconstruction, coincident with his arrest. Both the company and he wereto pay the penalty for resisting the powers that rule San Mateo. Andif the tale were spread that the destruction had been wrought by hisworkmen while drunk, who would doubt it?

Like shadows the band of Mexican desperadoes would come, dynamite thedam, fire the buildings, stampede the horses, and like shadows vanishagain. In the unexpectedness of the raid, in the confusion, in the dimlight, no one would with certainty be able to say who the assailantswere. A scheme ferocious in its conception and diabolical in itscunning! But there was one flaw--the element of chance. Chance hadgiven Weir warning. 

A strong man warned is a strong man armed. 

As the engineer stood in the office, swiftly measuring the imminentmenace of which he had just been told, calculating the meagerinstruments of defense at hand, his mind sweeping up all the salientaspects, features, advantages and disadvantages of the situation, heseized on the one weak spot in the attacking party's plan. At thatspot he would strike. 

So giving Johnson and Madden the order to take charge of the littlehandful of guards, he had plunged out into the night. 

The men from the bunk-house were already running toward the office, before the door of which the rancher gathered them together to makesure of their arms and ammunition. All told, when Martinez and Pollockpresently came from the store with guns, the little party numberedeleven. 

"Is this all there are of us?" Dr. Hosmer asked. 

"We are worth all that crowd that's coming, " Johnson exclaimed, takinga spare gun Martinez had brought him. 

"Did Weir send the rest of the engineers down to that house? Iunderstood so. "

"That's where they are, I reckon. "

Dr. Hosmer considered for a minute. 

"I can be there in five minutes in my car. The road is on the northside of the stream, as is this camp: the gang that's heading here toblow things up is coming up from the south, so it will not block theway. Men could be here in twenty minutes from down yonder byrunning. "

"A good suggestion, doctor, " Pollock said. "It may take you a bitlonger to find and tell them what's occurring, but even so they mayreturn in time. Fifty, or even twenty, might give us enoughassistance to beat off the attack. "

"There comes the moon, " said the man who had been at the spring. "Theymust be near now. "

Far in the east the moon was stealing above the horizon. Under itslight the mesa took form out of the darkness--the level sagebrushplain criss-crossed by willow-lined ditches and checkered by smallMexican fields, the winding shimmering Burntwood River with its borderof cottonwoods, the narrow road, the distant town of San Mateo, avague blot of shadow picked out by tiny specks of light. 

The mountains too now reared in view, silent, silvered, majestic, towering about the camp on the lower base. One could see, as the moonswam higher, the low long buildings of the camp clustered on thehillside above the canyon, in the bottom of which was the dashingstream and the bone-white core of the dam. 

"Look down yonder on the other side!" Martinez exclaimed suddenly, pointing a long thin forefinger at the mouth of the canyon where agroup of black dots were moving up the river. 

"That's them, " said the man who had given the warning. 

"And they're armed, " said another. "You can see the moon shine ontheir gun-barrels. "

On the opposite side of the stream, some two hundred yards below thedam and three or four hundred feet lower in elevation than the camp, advancing up the canyon in a string, the men looked like a line ofinsects. 

"I'm off for help, " the doctor said, springing into his car. "Janet, you and Mary go higher up among the rocks and hide if these buildingsare attacked. " Away he went, buzzing down the hillside to the longstretch of road. 

Weir now came into sight, walking quickly towards the group. That hesaw the Mexicans down in the canyon was evident from his swiftappraising glances thither. 

"Johnson, move your men down halfway to the dam and have them scatterthere behind bowlders. I shall go still lower down, " he said. "Youwill hold your fire until I signal with my hat from the dam. "

"You're going to the dam?"

"Yes. "

"We ought to go with you. "

"I don't need you. You'll be more effective hidden above. You'll haveplenty of light as the moon is shining squarely in the gorge. Andawait my signal. "

"All right; you're the general. "

"But take no extreme risks, Weir. The company doesn't ask you tosacrifice yourself, " Pollock stated. 

"The sacrifice will be down among those fellows, " Steele replied, withset jaw. "Don't worry about me. Now, start, men. "

He stood for a little watching the rate of progress of the line ofMexicans ascending the stream, which was not rapid owing to the brokenrocks lining the bank. Then he swung about to the two girls. 

"Every one here now is under my orders, " he said. "You two will takeyour car and go at once. This is no place for you. "

"But----" Janet began. 

"I'm taking no chances that you shall fall into the hands of thosescoundrels, " he declared, sternly. "They may succeed in reaching thisspot. You must not be here; you must go. "

Taking each by an arm he piloted them to the car. 

"Sorry, but it has to be, " he added. "This is work for men, and menalone. "

Janet and Mary climbed up into the seat. 

"You--you will take care of yourself, " Janet said, tremulously. 

"I expect to. Still, this isn't going to be a croquet party; anythingmay happen. Good-by. "

With that he swung about and breaking into a run made for a smallbuilding half-buried in the hillside and apart from the camp. There hestooped and picked up under each arm what looked like a cylinder ofsome size and went down towards the dam. For a time they could seehim, but all at once he slipped behind an outcrop of rock and they sawhim no more. 

Janet turned to eye her companion. Once more her face was pale. 

"Well?" she inquired of Mary. 

"I reckon we'd better do as he says. He'd be awful mad if we didn't. Did you see his eyes when he talked to us?"

"But if he--he and others are wounded?"

Uneasily Mary gazed at the older girl and then down at the canyon. Onthe hillside the men led by her father were no longer in sight, somewhere concealed among the stones that dotted the earth. But downby the stream and now scarcely fifty yards from the white stretch ofconcrete barring the river bed through a tunnel in which the waterfoamed and escaped, the Mexicans were clearly visible, their hatsbobbing about, their guns flinging upward an occasional gleam. 

"It doesn't seem as if anything was going to happen, " Mary went on inawed tones. "Things are so quiet and peaceful. "

Still Janet delayed starting the car, divided in feelings between awish to respect Steele Weir's insistent command and a growing fear forhis safety. She could see nothing of him. Into the shadow of a rock hehad disappeared and thither she gazed with straining eyes, hoping tosee again his straight strong figure. 

"Why, look down there at the dam, " Mary said, whose eyes had beenwandering from, point to point of the scene. "Isn't that him?"

Janet's heart gave a quicker beat, then seemed to sink in her breastas staring downward she recognized the engineer. He had come out allat once from the shade cast by a wooden framework. He had with him theburdens he had lifted from the ground before the little detached stonehouse at the edge of the camp, and these, the cylinders, he placed onthe surface of the concrete core at the spot where he stood. Then heknelt down, struck a match, lighted a cigar--as if any man in hissenses would stop to smoke in such a situation!--and busied himself atsome task over the cylinders. 

Only for an instant had he stood erect on the flat top of the dam. Apparently he had been unseen by the attackers, engaged in pickingtheir footing: and now in his crouching position, retired from theupper edge of the dam's front as he was, it was very likely that hewas wholly out of view of the band. 

At last Weir moved his cylinders forward towards this edge. Afterwardshe straightened up and standing hands on hips, smoking his cigar, thetiny crimson glow of which rose and fell, he watched the party nearingthe foot of the white gleaming wall, fifty feet below him. 

For Janet the sight was too much. His indifference to risk froze her;he appeared to be courting death; and she strove to open her lips tosend down to him an imploring cry to draw back, but succeeded inuttering only a tremulous wail. 

"They'll shoot him, " Mary was saying, "oh, they'll kill him!"

A surge of terror swept Janet. Next thing she knew she was out of thecar and running down the hillside among the stones and the stalks ofsagebrush, frantic to reach him, to pull him out of view of the menbeneath. Only a single one of them had to cast a glance upward and toraise his gun and fire, then he would die. He should not die! Sheshould fling herself as a protection before him rather than that heshould be slain!

On a sudden a hand reached up from a rock and seized her arm, stoppingher with a jerk. Then she was roughly pulled down beside it. The manwas Madden, the sheriff. 

"What in hell are you doing?" he demanded harshly. "Have you gonecrazy?"

His grip was not relinquished. 

"But see him! Aren't you men going to help him? Are you going to lethim be killed?"

Madden forced her to her knees, so that she was sheltered by theoutcrop of stone. 

"Any man who can smoke a cigar like that at such a time as this knowsjust what he's doing, " was the answer. "Keep quiet and watch. "

"Oh, I don't want to see, " she said. But she continued to look withfascinated eyes at the lone, calm figure on the dam. 

Presently Madden pushed his gun forward over the rock. 

"They've caught sight of him, " he stated. 

CHAPTER XXVI

THE THUNDERBOLT

The greater part of the number of bandits had stopped in a group a fewyards from the base of the white dam core, though a few stragglerswere some way behind. Among these Steele Weir made out the figure ofone whom he recognized as a white man; he whom the guard from thespring had mentioned as directing the company; and when at a number ofexclamations from Mexicans who perceived the engineer the man liftedhis face, Weir saw he was Burkhardt. 

No more than this was needed to show whose the hand behind thistreacherous conspiracy. Clear, too, it was that Burkhardt, determinedthat no mistake or abandonment of the operation should occur, had cometo see it through in person. Weir could ask nothing better; he had oneof the plotters caught in the act. 

Apparently orders had been to carry through the first part of thediabolical plan of destruction in silence, that of gaining control ofthe dam, for when two or three Mexicans flung up rifles to shoot atWeir a sharp word from another Mexican, seemingly their leader, hadchecked the volley and shouted to Burkhardt. 

The latter had stopped; he stared for a few seconds at the man on thewhite wall above and finally signaled with a wave of his arm. 

"Come down here, " he ordered. 

But Weir made no move to obey. He continued to stand motionless, coolly regarding the party beneath. His eyes particularly consideredtwo men who carried wooden boxes, square and stout, on theirshoulders. At last he spoke. 

"What do you want here?"

"Come down, then you'll learn, " Burkhardt shouted up, making no effortto hide the enmity in his voice. 

Weir puffed at his cigar, removed it from his lips to glance at itsglowing end, while the Mexicans stared up at him in silence, puzzledby this lone guard who carried no rifle, who did not flee away tospread an alarm and seek aid, and who so unexpectedly had appeared asif anticipating their visit. 

Murmurs broke out. Why were they not allowed to shoot him at once inthe approved Mexican bandit fashion and proceed to their work? Ifhe were not shot at once, he yet could escape for aid. The partyhad to ascend the hillside in order to mount to the top of theconcrete work. Time would be required to place and fire their chargesof dynamite--and they were eager to get at the loot in the buildingsabove. 

"Kill him, " Burkhardt roared suddenly, jerking forth his revolver andblazing at the engineer. 

The bullet sang past Weir's head. He did not duck; indeed, kept hisplace calmly while the Mexicans were raising their guns, as if to showhis supreme contempt for their power. But at the instant Burkhardtfired again and a dozen rifles blazed he sprang back and dropped flat, leaving the deadly missiles to speed harmlessly above the dam. 

Raising himself cautiously he seized the end of a fuse projecting fromone of the canisters and held the crimson end of his cigar against ituntil a sputter of sparks showed that it had caught. From this fuse heturned to the one in the second can and repeated the operation. 

This was the essence of his plan of defense. With guns the defenderson the hillside would be outnumbered and probably killed in an attack. The information that the assailants were to steal up the canyon, however, was the key that would unlock a desperate situation, and hismind had grasped the mode and means of defeating the enemy. 

With the first shots quiet had returned. The night seemed for Weir aspeaceful as ever, the earth bathed in moonlight, the camp at rest. Only before him there was the sputter of the two fuses, one at theright, one at the left, as the trains of fire burned towards the holesin the canisters. He watched these calculatingly. His cigar no longerof service had been cast aside. 

All at once he rose erect again. A few men were starting along thewall to climb the hillside, but the greater number were gathered aboutBurkhardt and the Mexican leader. Now Weir glanced at them and now atthe fuses. 

"I warn you to leave this dam and camp, Burkhardt, " he shouted, when afew seconds had passed. "Don't say I didn't give you warning. "

Every head jerked upward at this surprising reappearance and voice. They had supposed him fled, the men down there, and were having a lasthasty conference, doubtless as to the wisdom of now first attackingthe camp. A grim smile came on the engineer's face. Their astonishmentwas comic--or would have been at a moment less perilous and fraughtwith less grave consequences. 

An oath ripped from Burkhardt's lips. An angry curse it might havebeen at Madden that he had failed to arrest and hold the engineeraccording to plan. He gestured right and left, yelling something tothe men around him. He himself began to run towards one end of thedam. 

Weir stooped, picked up one of the canisters, blew on the fuse nowburned so near the hole. Some men perhaps at this instant would havequailed for their own safety and at the prospect of hurling deathamong others. For death this tin cylinder meant for those below. Butthere was no tremor in Steele Weir's arm or heart. 

He was the man of metal who had won the name "Cold Steel"--calm, implacable, of steel-like purpose. With such enemies he could hold noother communion than that which gave death. For such there was nomercy. By the same sort of law that they would execute let themsuffer--the law of lawlessness and force. Destruction they would give, destruction let them gain. 

He straightened. He took a last look at the snapping, sparkling, smoldering fuse, then flung his burden full down upon the spot wherethe Mexicans were again pointing their guns at him. Swiftly picking upthe second canister, while bullets whined by, he cast it down afterthe first. A glimpse of startled faces he had, of men attempting toscatter from before the huge missiles, then he flung himself fulllength upon the dam. 

Interminably time seemed to stretch itself out as lying there helistened, waited, sought to brace himself for the impending shock. Aquick doubt assailed his mind. Had the charges failed. 

All at once the earth seemed rent by a roar that shook the very dam. Followed instantly a second volume of sound more terrific, moreblasting in its quality, more dreadful in its power, deafening, stunning, as if the world had erupted. 

"Their dynamite!" Weir breathed to himself. 

His ear-drums appeared to be broken. His hat was gone. His body achedfrom the tremendous dispersion of air. But that he could still hear hediscovered when through his shocked auditory nerves he distinguished, as if far off, faint booming echoes from the hills. 

He got to his knees, finally to his feet. Pressing his hands to hishead he gazed slowly about. Stones and a rain of earth were stillfalling, as if from a meteoric bombardment. About him he perceivedsections of woodwork shaken to pieces, collapsed. 

Stepping to the edge of the dam he peered downward. A vast hole showedin the earth before the wall though the wall itself was uninjured andonly smeared with a layer of soil. Huge rocks lay where there had beennone before, uprooted and flung aside by the explosion, dispersed bythe gigantic blast. On the hillside half a dozen men were pickingthemselves up and struggling wildly to flee. Nearer, a few other formslay in the moonlight mangled and still, or mangled, and writhing inpain. Of all the rest--nothing. 

Almost completely Burkhardt's predatory band had been blotted out. Weir's thunderbolt had struck down into its very heart, and it hadvanished. 

As he turned and walked towards the end of the dam, he staggered alittle. The sight had shaken even his iron nerve. 

CHAPTER XXVII

WEIR STRIKES WHILE THE IRON IS HOT

In his runabout, with Sheriff Madden at his side, and followed byAtkinson and half a dozen men for guards in two other machines, Weirsped along the road to San Mateo. They carried with them Burkhardt, who had been found stunned and slightly injured, and two Mexicanbandits who had been captured. Those of the party of attackers yetalive but seriously hurt were being treated at camp by Dr. Hosmer, while the young engineers, armed and eager, were scouring the mountainside for the few Mexicans who had got away. 

It seemed a miracle that Burkhardt had escaped death, but theexplanation was found no doubt in the fact he had started from thespot where the canisters fell and so at the moment of explosion wasoutside the area of its full destruction. To Weir the matter wentdeeper than that. Providence appeared to have saved him forpunishment, for the long term of imprisonment he deserved for hiscrimes. 

"I'd much rather have him alive than dead, " Steele had remarked toMadden, when the man was brought up from the canyon a prisoner. 

The tremendous thunder-clap of sound from the camp had quickened thereturn of the superintendent and his men, already reached and warnedby the doctor. More, it had startled even the drunken workmen so thatwhen some one shouted that the dam had been blown up the debauch cameto an immediate end, the house was deserted and the throng, incited bycuriosity and wonder, went staggering and running for camp. 

The first of these had arrived and the rest were tailing behind forhalf a mile when Weir and his companions set out for town, theblinding headlights of the machines scattering on either side of theroad the approaching workmen. It was not likely many would go back tothe house when they were told at headquarters how narrowly destructionof the works had been averted and how their spree had been a move inthe plot. Between shame at being-duped and drowsiness resulting fromdrink they would, after a look at the hole blown in the earth at thebase of the dam, want to seek their bunk-houses. 

As they sped towards town Weir and Madden rapidly made their plans, for the sheriff having witnessed with his own eyes the enormity of theplotters' guilt was all for quick action. 

"These engineers of yours with us and the other men Meyers will bringdown can be thrown as a guard around the jail, " he stated. "I'll swearthem all in as deputies. With Sorenson and Vorse locked up along withBurkhardt--and I'll throw Lucerio, the county attorney, in with themon the off chance he's an accomplice--there will be high feelingrunning in San Mateo. As quick as I can make arrangements, we'll takethem to safe quarters elsewhere--to-night if possible, to-morrow atthe latest, in fast machines. These men have friends, remember. "

"You've Burkhardt handcuffed; it might be well to gag him, too, forfear the crowd might make trouble if he yelled for help, " Weirreplied. 

"Yes, we'll do that, though I think we can rush him into the jailbefore anyone knows what's happening. "

On the outskirts of town therefore the cars stopped. When Burkhardt, who had recovered his senses and with them a knowledge of his plight, perceived the sheriff's intention his rage burst all bounds. 

"You fool, you muddle-headed blunderer!" he exclaimed, with a stringof oaths. "Take these cuffs off! You'll lose your job for this trick. When I see Sorenson----"

"When you see him, you'll see him; and that will be inside a cell, "was the cool rejoinder. "I didn't know you were a dynamiter andwould-be murderer until to-night, but I watched you at work and sawyou shoot twice at Weir. "

"You'll unlock these, I say, here and now!" And the raging voice wentoff in a further stream of biting curses. "Look at me; I'm Burkhardt. You're crazy to talk of throwing me in jail, with my influenceand----"

"Your influence be damned, " was the imperturbable answer. "You'll havea long time in a penitentiary to see how much influence you have, ifyou don't swing first. "

Burkhardt struggled fiercely for a moment against the steel bandsabout his wrists and the men who held him. 

"No crook like this Weir shall ever send me behind bars, or any otherman put me there. Wait till Sorenson and Vorse and Judge Gordon learnwhat you're trying! Wait till they find out you've double-crossed usfor this engineer! Wait till Gordon turns me loose with a _habeascorpus_, you'll sweat blood for this night's work, Madden!"

The sheriff shook out the red handkerchief with which he expected tobind the prisoner's mouth. 

"I'll wait for a long time if I wait for Gordon to issue the writ, " heremarked. "Seeing that he's dead. "

"Dead! You're a liar, you sneaking cur; you can't bluff me. And whenI'm loose, if I don't fill you full of lead it will be because----"

But Burkhardt's explanation was never finished on that point, forMadden whipped the rolled handkerchief over his mouth and quicklyknotted it behind, shutting off the flow of seething vituperativespeech. If looks could slay, those he received from the prisoner'sbloodshot maddened eyes would have dropped the sheriff in his tracks;as it was, they fell harmless against the law officer's person. 

"Things have changed sort of sudden, haven't they, Burkhardt?" Maddenstated, sardonically. "Never can tell what's going to happen betweensupper and breakfast. Here I go out to serve a warrant on Weir, andinstead I'm bringing you in for trying a low I. W. W. Trick. Surprisingcards a fellow sometimes gets on the draw. " With which he went back tothe other car. 

Counting on quickness for the safe delivery of his men in jail, Maddendid not attempt to approach the court house by a side street. On thecontrary he drove fast down the main way, with the other two carsfollowing close, passing without pause through the crowd of Mexicansdrawn forth in wonder at the booming report of the explosion that hadsounded from the dam. 

One could see that excitement was at a high pitch. With the rumorsthat all day had been in circulation, with later vague tales of thegreat debauch proceeding at the old 'dobe house half way up the roadto camp, with the thunder-clap that had burst from the base of themountains coming on top of all, every man, woman and child had run tothe main street, where those in the automobiles could see by waggingtongues and gesticulating hands that speculation was rife andcuriosity afire. 

"The talk this evening when I set out for your camp was that Iexpected to bring you in and hang you, " Madden said dryly, to theengineer. "Quite a crowd had come to town. Plain to see now thatBurkhardt and his bunch had started the talk. I shouldn't be surprisedif there had been trouble had I arrested and locked you up. There area few bad Mexicans around these parts that would do anything formoney, and it's evident from what's happened that Sorenson's gang wasready to go the limit. What I'm trying to figure out is where thesefellows Burkhardt had with him up yonder came from. "

"I can tell you. From across the line. I've seen plenty just like themdown there, " Weir affirmed. "Look at their hats and clothes--butyou'll be able to make them talk after a while. However, you won'tfind any of them speaking English. Offer one of them some money and atrip home and he'll give you the story quick enough, especially afteryou've thrown a scare into him. We can afford to let one go to get thefacts. "

"You better keep out of sight after we have the men in the jail. Slipbehind the jail to the rear of the yard, and when I've locked them upand told Atkinson what to do about keeping the people away from thebuilding, I'll join you there. "

"I understand, " Weir stated. 

"And we can slip off and grab Vorse if he's in his saloon and thenSorenson before any one knows what's happening. "

"That's right; don't want the game spoiled now. Here we are. "

The cars had arrived at the gate before the courthouse. Here, too, however, the crowd was densest, having gathered at the spot as if theroar of powder from the camp was an overture to Weir's arrest andappearance. It had proved a prelude to his appearance, at any rate. The crowd perceived him with Madden and it believed him a prisonereven if not handcuffed and marched with a pistol at his head. 

A profound silence at first greeted the party as it alighted. Madden, assisting Burkhardt to alight, pulled the man's broad-brimmed hat lowover his eyes to conceal his face from the revealing moonlight. Ashort struggle again ensued, but Burkhardt finally yielded to thepressure exerted by his companion guards. 

A murmur of astonishment ran over the surrounding throng, each instantbeing augmented by the voices of others running to the place. Not onlydid it appear that the engineer was under arrest, but likewiseothers, --a handcuffed, gagged man and two sullen Mexicans, strangersto the community. Yet a number of the onlookers, possibly men withVorse's or Sorenson's money in their pockets, shouted as thenew-comers moved through the press:

"Killer, murderer! Hang him, shoot him!" And more voices began to joinin the cry. 

Clearly the intent was to stir up feeling in the crowd to a pointwhere action against Weir would seem a spontaneous outbreak. Evenwomen joined in the cry; curses followed; fists were shaken. 

"Open up the way, " Madden ordered, as a surge of the crowd threatenedto surround him and his party. In his hand, as if to emphasize hiscommand, a six-shooter swung into view, sweeping to and fro andmenacing the press of people. 

The frightened men directly before the party struggled to get out ofline of the weapon, yielding suddenly a clear passage. 

"Quick! Around the courthouse and back to the jail, " Madden exclaimedto those with him. 

Pushing forward from the moonlight into the shade cast by thecottonwoods, they dragged their prisoners past the first buildingtowards the low stout stone structure at the rear, half-illuminatedand half-concealed by the patches of light and shade falling from thetrees. 

A minute later Madden whipped out his keys. 

"Two men remain here at the door and don't be afraid to show yourrifles to that bunch, " he said. "In with you, Burkhardt; there's anice soft stone floor to sleep on. Keep those Mexican camp-burnerscovered, Atkinson, till I get the cells open. You, Weir, slip on backthere in the shadow and wait for me. "

The engineer had taken but three steps into the gloom along theoutside jail wall, glancing about to avoid any curious straggler ofthe crowd already hurrying around the court house towards the jail, when he heard a call. In the advance was a slim well-dressed Mexican, full in the moonlight and very important of bearing. The call wasdirected not at Weir but at Madden. 

"You got him all right, sheriff?" he said. 

"Yes. He came in with me, " was the answer. 

"But who are these others?"

"Step inside and I'll tell you, Lucerio. "

The county attorney joined the sheriff, peered inside the doorway andhesitated. It was dark within; no light showed except a patch ofmoonlight at the far side of the building that fell through a barredwindow. 

"Go right in, " Madden exclaimed. And laying hand on the other'sshoulder he forced him ahead. The door closed after the pair. Beforethe doorway there remained, however, the pair of young engineers, rifle in hand, whose threatening bearing and glistening gun-barrelswere apparent even in the patchy light dropping through the boughs. Ata distance of about ten feet off the crowd of people halted, staringeagerly at the jail building, showing their white teeth as theycarried on low talk in Spanish and awaiting with impatience the returnof Madden and Lucerio that they might flood them with questions. 

Weir remained to see no more, for the increasing crowd pushed outfurther and further on the flanks, a circumstance that wouldeventually result in his discovery. So slipping to the rear of thejail and keeping well in the shadows he gained the fence. This heleaped and, lighting a cigarette, examined his pistol, then proceededto smoke calmly until Madden arrived. 

"Hurry; slip away, " the latter said. "They wondered what the devil Idodged back here for and are coming, curious as cats. "

The two men glided away, keeping well in shadows until they gained theside street and thence passed to the main thoroughfare. 

"What if Sorenson and Vorse are somewhere in that crowd?" Maddenasked. "They're likely to be, expecting your arrest. "

"Then we'll have to wait till they leave it. But I don't believethey're there. They won't want to show their hand even by being on thescene. "

"Probably they've found out Gordon is dead. "

"Probably. But on the other side, they suppose now that the dam hasbeen destroyed and that I'm locked up, " Weir said. "Still, I'll guessthat if they've learned Pollock and Martinez and I were at Gordon'sall the afternoon, and he committed suicide, they'll be worrying somejust the same. "

Madden glanced at his companion. 

"I don't believe we'll bring Vorse in--alive, " he said. 

"That's the way I want him, and Sorenson, too. I want to see them goup for life, but if not that then hanged. But a life term for both, along with Burkhardt, is my choice. I want them to suffer as my fathersuffered. Only worse. Dying's too easy for them. Let them have hellhere for awhile before they get it on the other side. Let the ironbars and stone walls kill them. I hope they live for twenty years tognaw out their hearts every day and every night behind steel doors. That wouldn't half pay what they owe. But if they finish in prison, knowing there's no hope, knowing I've put them there for what they didto my father and Jim Dent, knowing that all the money and cattle theystole had slipped through their fingers, that they've lost all theygained and more, that their curses and crimes are crushing their ownheads, why, that will help. And Sorenson--Sorenson there every dayknowing his son lies a helpless cripple, without the money that hasbeen piled up for him! I couldn't invent a worse hell for him. Andthat's the hell he's going to have!"

Though a man not easy to move, Madden at Weir's cold implacableexpression of hatred shivered slightly. Sorenson and his accompliceswould be lucky indeed if they died by the rope. 

CHAPTER XXVIII

VORSE

Across the main street the two men walked, wearing their hats low andmaking no answer to shouted questions of those hurrying to thecourthouse yard. Already the grounds about the court house and thestreet in front were jammed with eager, excited Mexicans, thrilledwith an expectation of something to happen, though they knew notexactly what. The murderer, the killer, they have taken the killer, was the constant statement tossed from mouth to mouth. 

"But not the killer they think, " Madden said, in a low aside to Weiras they moved ahead on their errand. 

The pair were now advancing toward the saloon, along the opposite sideof the street where a slight shadow afforded them concealment. By thetime they came opposite the building they had escaped altogether fromthe crowd, though looking thither over shoulder they could see theblack press of people in the moonlight at the public building; andhere the street was empty except for a few belated women and childrenrunning toward the assemblage. 

Madden's hand suddenly gripped the engineer's arm as they were aboutto step forth from the shadow to cross the street to the saloon. 

"There he is, " the sheriff whispered. 

Vorse had pushed open the slatted door of his place and steppedoutside. In the moonlight his figure and face were clearly visible:his thin whip-cord body and predatory face, and bald head as shiny andhard as a fish-scale. He wore no coat, while his vest hung unbuttonedand open as usual. About his waist was an ammunition belt carrying aholster, as if he were prepared for action. 

Thus he stood for a time, hands on hips, motionless, his cruelhatchet-like face directed towards the scene further along the street. Presently a man came running to him, Miguel, his bartender, who hadbeen one of the two men serving out whiskey to the workmen at the oldadobe house and who at the break-up of the spree had hastened back totown to report to his employer. Now, it seemed, he had fresher news togive. 

"Yes, it is the engineer, for a certainty, " he exclaimed panting, ashe stopped before Vorse. "The sheriff arrested him and he now lies injail there. It is said he fought and tried to shoot Madden, but thatthe sheriff was too quick and shot the gun out of his hand. It is saidalso that the dam is blown into a million little stones, but men areriding there on horses to see for themselves. They will soon return. Anyway a fight there was up there undoubtedly, for Madden brought innot only the engineer but three other men, bound and handcuffed andstruggling furiously, trying to strike and bite the crowd like maddogs. From time to time the sheriff had to beat them on the heads withhis pistol, especially the engineer, who is the worst. I did not seethem, but those who did said their faces were streaming with blood. "

"All right. Go find José Molina and 'Silver' Leon. "

"Are they not up in the hills with their bands of sheep?"

"No. They are here. Look around till you find them; then send them tome. "

"That means something lively to happen, eh?" Miguel said with alaugh. 

He did not wait, however, for an answer, but set off at once for thecourt house. 

"I hope Meyers shows up soon with more men, " Madden said to Weir. "Those two sheepherders of Vorse's are a pair of snakes; he alwayshires that kind; and they probably have some fellows with them likethemselves. "

"Meyers is on the way with twenty men or so by this time. They had tocome in wagons, as we had the cars. Atkinson ought to be able to standoff the crowd with the half dozen boys he has until the othersarrive. "

While they had conducted this brief exchange of opinions they had kepttheir gaze on the saloon-keeper, who continued to stand before hisdoor. The cold and merciless character of the man was never morerevealed than now as he waited for his hired assassins to come toreceive orders. Possessing already a full knowledge of the plot, Weirand Madden were able to guess what culmination was now contemplatedand measure the true depth of the conspirators' infamy. The sheriffespecially boiled with inward wrath that they should expect to makehim not only a dupe but a tool in their crime. 

"It's clear they never intended you should come to trial whenarrested, " he said to his companion. 

"Certainly not. That isn't the way they play the game. And I supposeVorse there imagines the cards are all falling his way at thismoment. "

"He's going in. "

"Good. Now then!"

Weir struck off across the street, striding forward at a pace Maddenfound it difficult to keep. As they neared the door, Weir loosened thegun in his holster. 

In this action the sheriff imitated him and then changing his minddrew the weapon itself. Plain man that he was, he was an instinctivejudge of character; he had encountered men of Vorse's type before, less shrewd but equally savage; their nature was to fight, notsurrender; their way was to kill or be killed in the final issue. Heanticipated no arrest. 

He felt no necessity, however, to express this view to the engineer, who had proved himself in the time he had been at San Mateo whollycompetent to deal with any situation that arose. Moreover, while Vorsehad had a reputation of being a quick shot in the past, he wasconfident Weir was his master. 

With a quiet movement the engineer pushed open the door and steppedinto the saloon. Madden following him had allowed the slatted door toswing shut again and the sound of its hinges caused Vorse, who wasjust starting away from the bar, to turn about. In his hand was a trayholding a bottle of whiskey, a bottle of mineral water and glasses, which apparently he had just lifted up. 

For a space of ten seconds or so he remained unmoving, the tray in hishand and his eyes regarding the visitors fixedly. Behind him in therear of the saloon a second man had sprung up from the table where hesat, but after that first startled action he, too, had not stirred. The man was Sorenson. 

With Madden at his side and with a grim smile on his lips Weir walkedslowly towards Vorse. In his tread there was something of the qualityof a tiger's, the light, deliberate, poised advance, the easy anddangerous movement of body, the effortless glide of a powerful animalready to spring and strike. His hands swung idly at his sides, butthat did not mean they would not be swift once they responded to thecall of the brain that controlled them. 

"You gentlemen were just about to celebrate my downfall, I perceive, by pouring a libation, " Weir said. "Don't let me interrupt. Only Imust request you to conduct the proceedings there where you'restanding, Vorse, instead of at the rear of the room: Madden and I wisha good view of the ceremony. If Mr. Sorenson will be so agreeable asto step forward, you may go ahead. "

Sorenson did not join Vorse, but instead he spoke. 

"Why haven't you locked up your prisoner, Madden?" he demandedharshly. "And you're letting him keep his gun. Don't you know enoughto disarm a murderer and throw him into jail when you arrest him?"

"I haven't arrested him yet, " was the sheriff's answer. 

"Well, do it then. You have the warrant for the scoundrel. Perhaps youhaven't heard he almost killed my boy Ed last night--and you'reallowing him to walk around with you as if he were a bosom friend. Doyour duty, or we'll get a sheriff who will. "

"That's why I'm here, to do my duty. "

"You didn't have to bring this man here to do it. "

"I decided to bring him, however. "

From Vorse had come not a word. Only his gleaming evil eyes continuedto rest on the two men without wink or change. For him explanationswere unnecessary; he had divined instantly that somewhere, somehow theplotters' plans had gone awry. 

"Did you know that Gordon is dead?" Weir asked, all at once. 

Vorse lowered the tray to the bar and ran the tip of his tongue overhis lips. 

"No, " said he, "we didn't know it. "

"He deeded his property over this evening and then swallowed poison, "the engineer stated. "He saw the game was up. "

"You can't make me believe your lies, " came sneering from Sorenson. "And you shall pay, you and that girl, for every broken bone in myboy's body. I'll spend my last dollar for that if necessary. Madden, do your duty and lock him up. "

The sheriff said nothing, but lifted his gun a little. Vorse by aslight movement of his body had edged from the bar as if to gainfreedom for action. 

"The game's up for you men too, " Weir said. "You've murdered androbbed and swindled in this country long enough; I've got the proofand I'm going to remove you from this community. It's not I who willbe arrested. You killed Jim Dent after cleaning him out at cards andthen made my father believe he was guilty of the crime. All I fear isthat the court will hang you instead of sending you up for life; thatwould be too good for you. I want your crooked souls to die a thousanddeaths within stone walls before you die in body. The game's up, Isay. I've Saurez' deposition and I've the man who was the boy lookingin the back door there that day thirty years ago and saw you shootDent, and he'll go on the stand against you. "

A stillness so profound that one could hear the tiny insects hoveringabout the lamps succeeded this statement. If words had not beenenough, Weir's cold, harsh face would have removed the men's lasthope, for on it was not a single trace of relenting. A stone couldhave been no flintier. 

"Well?" Vorse inquired softly. 

His arched bony nose appeared thinner and more hawk-like. His lipswere compressed in a white scornful smile, while his eyelids nowdrooped until but slits of light showed from the orbs. 

"And you may be interested to know Burkhardt and some of the Mexicanshe hired are now locked up in jail; the rest, or nearly all, aredead, " Weir continued, with slow distinctness. "Your little scheme toblow up the dam and burn the camp failed. We caught Burkhardt at thespot leading the gang. Your plot to make the workmen drunk and leavethe dam unprotected worked well enough so far as that part wasconcerned, but a keg of powder dropped on your bunch of importedbandits ended that part of the show. And we have Burkhardt! Yougentlemen are going to join him in the jail, where we shall give youall the care and attention you deserve. "

Vorse turned his head about towards Sorenson. 

"Do you hear?" he asked. 

"Madden, you've too much sense to believe all this trumped-up libel!"Sorenson exclaimed furiously. "About us, respected leaders of thistown! Arrest the blackguard!"

Even facing assured proof of his complicity and guilt, the cattlemanstill believed in the power of his wealth and influence, in hisability to browbeat opponents, to command the man he had elected tooffice, to dominate and ruthlessly crush by sheer will power allresistance, as he had done for years. 

"I take no orders from you, " the sheriff replied. 

"Well, I suppose I can empty the till and lock the safe before going?"Vorse questioned. 

"No. Keep in front of the bar where you are, " the sheriff commanded. 

"And have everything stolen. "

"Your bar-keeper will be back presently. He will look after things foryou. "

"You say Burkhardt is locked up?"

"Yes. "

"That will hurt his pride, " Vorse laughed. "He always swore that noone should put him behind bars. He wouldn't have minded so muchfinishing in a gun-fight, but to serve a term in prison would surelygo against the grain with Burk. Though I think with Sorenson----"

Weir's eyes had never left the speaker. Through the other'sinconsequential talk and apparently careless acceptance of the fact ofarrest the engineer had noted the tense gathering of the man's body. 

"Put your hands up, " he interrupted at this point. 

Vorse had uttered no following word after speaking Sorenson's name;his voice terminated abruptly. At the same instant his right hand flewto his holster and whipped out his gun. It was the advantageous timefor which he had waited, for Madden's look which had been moving backand forth from Vorse to Sorenson so as to cover both had passed to thelatter. And Weir's weapon was undrawn. 

But if Vorse drew fast, the engineer's motion was like a flash oflight. His weapon leaped on a level with the other's breast. Thereport sounded a second before that of Vorse's and three beforeMadden's, who also had fired. 

Then, if ever, Steele Weir had displayed his amazing speed in beatingan enemy to his gun, for Vorse had indeed been quick, keyed by aknowledge that for him this meant imprisonment or freedom, a slowdeath or liberty. 

For a minute he stood half crouching as he had been at the instant ofshooting, his eyes glaring balefully at his enemy and the thin cruelsmile on his lips, while the two men in front stood warily waitingwith weapons extended. Then Vorse clutched at his breast, mutteredthickly and toppled over full length on the floor. 

The sharp pungent smell of powder smoke mingled with the reek ofliquor. 

"He's dead, " Madden said. 

"Yes. "

"Are you hit?"

"No. His bullet went past my hip; he never got his gun up. "

Madden glanced about towards the rear of the room. A command forSorenson to stop broke from his lips. Next he fired. And Weir swinginghis look that way saw Sorenson's form, untouched by the bullet, vanishing through the rear door into the night. Using the minute thatthe two men's surveillance had been lifted he had escaped. 

"Hard luck when we had him, " Weir growled. 

"He can't get away. "

"I'm not so sure. And he's armed. "

"He'll strike for home to get his car. "

"Or to the office for money, " Weir exclaimed. 

CHAPTER XXIX

THE FOURTH MAN

A last look Steele Weir had at the dead man on the floor before heturned to go in search of Sorenson. Not so astute or crafty as JudgeGordon, nor so intelligent as Sorenson, nor so belligerent asBurkhardt, he had been as rapacious and infinitely more cool-mindedthan any of the three. If anything, he was the one of them all toproceed to a crime, whether fraud or murder, in sheer cold blood andby natural craving. No uneasy conscience would have ever disturbed hisrest: no remorse or pity ever stirred in his breast. He was the humancounterpart of a bird of prey. 

Well, he was dead now. Three of the quartette who had been joined byavarice and lawless actions were taken care of--Burkhardt a prisoner, Gordon dead by self-administered poison, Vorse by bullets. Almost didSteele Weir feel himself an embodiment of Fate, clipping the strandsof these men's power and lives as with shears. Sorenson alone remainedto be dealt with and his freedom should be short. 

Beckoning Madden, he went swiftly through the door where the cattlemanhad leaped into the shadows. Where the gloom ceased and the spacebehind the row of store buildings was clear in the moonlight, nothingwas to be seen. Naturally the man had kept within black shade in hisflight. 

When they reached the rear of the cattle company's office building, they peered in through its barred back windows, but all was darkinside the structure so far as they could determine. To all appearanceSorenson had not stopped here: it was quiet, gloomy, untenanted. 

"We'll have to try his home now, " the sheriff stated. "If we don'tfind him there, we'll set the telephones going to warn all the ranchesand towns around to be on the lookout and either to stop or report himif he shows up. He hasn't start enough to get away now. "

They hastened on along the line of buildings until they reached a sidestreet. But when they had proceeded a short way, Weir stopped. 

"I'm not satisfied about the office, " said he. "Suppose you go on tohis house and I'll return for a look inside from the front. If youfail to find him join me at Martinez' office, where no one is likelyto be around and we can then lay further plans. "

"That suits, " Madden responded, and set off alone. 

Weir's alert brain had been turning over the possibilities ofSorenson's course. Rather by pursuing what would be the man's line ofreasoning than by depending on chance, he had come to the quickdecision to turn back once again to the office. Sorenson would so actas would best serve his immediate escape and that of the future. 

Would he expect the sheriff and the engineer to look for him to fleeby the speediest means, an automobile, and to the natural avenue ofescape, the railroad? Yes. Therefore on that expectation he wouldadopt another way to throw off pursuit. And perilous as a delay wouldbe in getting away from San Mateo, yet he must risk the few minutesnecessary to get money. For to fly with pockets empty meant eventual, certain capture. Money a fugitive from justice must possess aboveeverything in order to possess wings; and no one would know thatbetter than Sorenson. 

Though Madden and he had seen no light in the office building, thecattleman nevertheless might have been within. If he had been in thevault, he could safely have lighted a candle without their perceivingits beams; and though the safe was modern it probably had no timelock. Sorenson could unlock it with a few twirls of the combination, stuff his pockets with currency and negotiable paper to the amount ofthousands and then slip away. 

Fortunately the moonlight was to Weir's advantage. He quickened hissteps, passed round the corner into the main street and moved towardsthe building. For him the crowd at the court house at that moment hadno interest; one person, and one person alone, commanded histhoughts. 

How correct had been his logic--logic not unmixed with intuition, perhaps--appeared when he was yet some fifty yards away from the doorhe sought. A tall bulky figure suddenly stepped forth from thebuilding and instantly ran across the street and lost itself in theshifting, jostling crowd that was half-disclosed, half-concealed bythe broken shadows of the moonlit trees. 

Steele Weir proceeded to a spot near the office and halted. His firstimpulse to rush after Sorenson had been promptly suppressed, as coolerjudgment ruled. To seek his quarry in that throng would be laborwasted, while to reveal his identity would be to court a disastrousinterference with the business at hand. From where he stood he shouldmuch better be able to see Sorenson when he did emerge, unless hechose to remain in the crowd or steal away at the rear of the courthouse yard, a chance Weir must take. 

Five minutes passed. The restless, talkative Mexicans continued toswarm and buzz with excitement, ceaselessly moving about, forming andreforming in groups, agitatedly repeating newer and wilder rumorsconcerning events. Despite Weir's intent watch for Sorenson, theengineer could not but observe the mob's manifestations, observe themwith sardonic humor. For their ebullition of the present would benothing to what it would be if they learned he stood across thestreet, uncaged, unfettered, free and armed, a "gun-man" loose insteadof a "gun-man" in jail. 

All at once Weir noted out of the tail of his eye a slight stir amonga number of horses standing with reins a-trail before a store a littleway down the street. The horses were partly in the light, partly inthe shadow, so that all he could see was that one or two of them hadjerked aside quickly, then resumed their listless postures. 

He was about to withdraw his eyes when he saw a man swing upon theback of one of them and start off at an easy canter. Weir sprangtowards the spot at a run. That big figure could only be Sorenson's, for no Mexican he had ever seen in San Mateo could match it. And theplan of escape showed the other's craft in an emergency; graduallyworking his way through the crowd he had at last gained the protectiveshadow of the building on that side of the street and slipped along init until he reached the horses. 

Doubtless the man had conceived the plan at the instant he had steppedfrom his office, sweeping the street by one gauging look. With thewhole town assembled at the court house, his departure was littlelikely to be noted by the Mexicans, while Madden and Weir would neversuspect him of riding off on a horse, or suspect too late. Indeed, herode at first as if in no great haste, but as he turned his mountinto a narrow by-way, more a lane than a street that disappearedbetween two mud walls, Weir saw him strike his heels into the pony'sflanks. 

But for the startled movement of the nearby horses when Sorensontook stirrup, Weir would not have looked that way. He mightpossibly have seen the horseman start off, but that is not certain. He unquestionably would have supposed him an ordinary rider if hehad not noticed the man until he reached the mouth of the lane. 

Meantime the engineer had made his best speed to the line of waitinghorses. Slowing to a walk so as not to scare them, though as hediscovered on examination most of them looked too bony and spiritlessfor that, he approached and carefully inspected the bunch. He took histime in the selection: the more haste in choosing a mount might proveless speed in the end. He tightened the saddle-girths and ran a fingeralong the head straps of the bridle of the horse picked to judge theirfit, receiving a snap from the pony's teeth, which gave himsatisfaction. Not only was this animal a wiry, tough-looking littlebeast, but he had life. 

Up into the saddle Weir went, followed Sorenson's line to the lane, down which he swung. Coming out into the next street, he pursued it toan intersecting street, and there galloped for the edge of townwithout trying to guess the way taken by his enemy. Once he reachedthe open fields he would quickly get sight of the man racing awaysomewhere on the mesa. 

Evidently the quarry he pursued had not taken so direct a course asWeir, for when the latter at length came forth where he could have awide view he perceived the horseman a quarter of a mile off andfurther east, galloping south. The engineer at once raced thither togain the same road and turning into it made for Sorenson. 

Thus the two men sped away from San Mateo. The wire fences and theadobe houses of Mexicans owning little farms adjoining soon ceased. The wide mesa lay on either side. Though a quarter of a mile hadseparated the men when Weir first observed the other, the distancebetween had been increased while the engineer was gaining the road, until now the interval was almost twice as great. 

Weir guessed the fleeing man's plan. Instead of seeking the railroadfor the present, he would disappear in the mountains, where with theassistance of some loyal employee, cowman or sheepherder, he would liehid until the first fury of the hunt had subsided. Possibly his boldbrain even conceived the idea of again returning to San Mateo somedark night soon and further looting the office, vigilance beingrelaxed. 

In any case, he would expect to remain safe from pursuit in a mountainfastness until either on horseback or by automobile he could work hisway out of the country. With what he had unquestionably carried off hewould not be a poor man. In some spot far away he could assume a newname, start in business and later be joined by his wife and crippledson. 

Alas, for those plans, arising like mushrooms on the ruins of hislife! Behind him followed the same inexorable antagonist who soswiftly had brought everything crashing about his head. PossiblySorenson once out of the town had failed to look back; possiblylooking back he had been unable to distinguish against the blur ofhouses and trees the horseman galloping in the moonlight along thesame road. 

But all at once when they were two miles away from San Mateo hediscovered Weir, who had been gradually cutting down the space betweenuntil now again he was within a quarter of a mile of his quarry. Sorenson had been riding rapidly but not hard; he now beat his horseto a furious gallop, --a good pony, too, from its speed, showing thatthe banker as well as Weir had picked his mount with care. 

Weir did not urge his horse to a similar pace, only maintaining a faststeady gallop that kept the other in sight though the space betweenagain widened. Apparently Sorenson realized the folly of attempting tooutrun, his pursuer at once, for he soon dropped back into a regular, mile-eating gallop. Gradually in turn Weir crept up to his oldposition. 

To each the only sound was that of drumming hoof-beats. In front rodethe fleeing man--dethroned leader and criminal and murderer. Behindrelentlessly came his Nemesis, the son of the man whom he had deceivedand damned to mental suffering. All about them as they flew along wasthe silent, moonlit, sage-covered mesa. At their right towered themisty, unchanging peaks, as if watching unmoved this strange race oftwo human beings. A strange race, in truth, --a race where vengeancerode. 

CHAPTER XXX

THE VICTOR

Ten miles the two men had gone when Sorenson's horse began to fail. The rider's weight was proving too much for the sturdy little animaland though he strove to maintain his speed the strain told on lungsand legs. Weir had reduced the distance first to three hundred yards, then to two hundred, and at last but a hundred separated him from theman and horse ahead. 

The hard chase indeed was beginning to tell on his own mount. Flecksof foam flew from its lips; its neck was wet with sweat; the whistleof its breath was audible to the engineer at every stride. For as bothmen had realized that now the end could not be far off, they hadpushed their horses to faster and faster galloping. 

On a sudden Sorenson swung his animal into a dim trail leading fromthe main road skirting the mountain range to the base of the mountainsthemselves. The first slopes were but a mile away, covered with ascattering growth of pinyon pines. Just in front, too, for which thetrail seemed pointing, was a dark ravine filled with brush that roseto the denser timber above. This was the fugitive's goal. Once hecould fling himself from the saddle and plunge into the undergrowth hewould be safe from his pursuer. 

The two ponies struggled on with exhausted leaps. Weir had reduced theinterval to seventy-five yards by the time half the distance wascovered and to fifty as they drew near the mouth of the ravine. Hemeasured his gain and the remaining two hundred yards or so withsavage eyes, then drew his revolver. He desired to take Sorensonunharmed. But rather than that the man should escape he would killhim. 

Sorenson's horse stumbled, but a jerk of the reins saved him and kepthim moving on. The engineer struck his own pony fiercely on the flank, which produced a tremendous effort in the striving beast that broughtit within thirty paces or so of Sorenson. That, however, was the bestit could do, labor as it would. Its knees were trembling at everystride, its head swinging heavily. 

Sorenson's horse suddenly went to its knees. But the man leaping cleartook the ground on his feet and instantly set off at a run for theline of brush in the draw some seventy or eighty paces away. A lastspurt Weir's pony made, bringing his rider to within thirty yards ofthe cattleman, who glancing over his shoulder halted, swung about, fired a shot and again started to run. 

The pony under Weir came to an abrupt stop, shaking. He was done, whether from exhaustion or the bullet the engineer did not wait tosee. Flinging himself out the saddle he raced after his man, takingthe rough trail leading up the slope in swift strides. On footSorenson was no match for him. But the latter had the start; he wasnow almost within reach of the thick screen of bushes; and he bentevery energy to make the ambuscade. 

Still running, Weir flung up his gun and fired. Close the shot musthave gone to Sorenson, so close as to inject into the man's mindrecollection of his pursuer's accuracy and a fear of a bullet in hisback, for when within twenty feet of the bushes he dropped behind asmall bowlder, whence he fired twice at Weir but without striking hismark. 

Neither man after the furious ride and the concluding run on foot wasfit for sure marksmanship. This Weir realized, so stopped where he wassome forty feet off from Sorenson's stone in order to regain hisbreath and calm his nerves. Of the cattleman he could see nothing; theman crouched low out of sight, perhaps reloading his weapon, perhapssteeling himself for a dash across that small moonlit space thatseparated him from safety, or perhaps preparing for a quick upwardspring and a fresh volley directed at his foe. 

It may be questioned if in his heart Sorenson was not almost disposedto fight the matter out. He was no coward; his original hatred for theengineer had by recent events been swelled to a diabolical desire tokill; and now even if he, Sorenson, succeeded in slipping away, hiswhereabouts would be known unless he destroyed the man. Safetydemanded that he not only escape but escape without this witness. 

Weir had not sought cover. He stood upright, his revolver ready, trusting to have an advantage in his speed when it came to an exchangeof shots. Then he began an advance, a slow noiseless circling advancethat at the same time of taking him closer to his enemy brought himround on his flank. 

Sorenson's hand and pistol appeared and half his face while threeshots rattled from his gun, two at the spot where Weir had been andone at him in his new position, which the hiding man had immediatelylocated. The last shot ticked the engineer's sleeve. In return Weirfired twice, the first bullet striking the rock and ricocheting offwith a loud whine, while the second struck the pistol from Sorenson'shand. 

Instantly Weir sprang forward. 

"Show yourself, " he ordered. And the kneeling fugitive, disarmed, gripping his bleeding hand, sullenly arose to his feet. "You've led mea chase, but I have you at last, " the engineer continued. "Now you'regoing back to San Mateo and jail. Walk towards the horses. "

Sorenson cast one bitter glance at the thicket in the ravine; by onlythe little matter of a few yards he had failed to gain liberty. ForWeir his visage when he looked around again was never more hard, hostile, full of undying hatred. Though balked, he was not submissive, and was the kind who kept his animosity to the end. Then he startedoff towards the horses, his own which had staggered to its feet againand Weir's, both standing with hanging heads and heaving, quiveringsides. 

All at once the cattleman halted and faced about. 

"Most men have a price, and I suppose you have yours, " he said, withforced calmness. "I'm ready to pay it. "

"You're going to pay it, " was the answer. 

"How much will you ask to let me go?"

"If you offered me ten million, which you haven't got, I wouldn'taccept it, " Weir said, harshly. "There isn't enough money in the worldto buy your liberty. You're going back to San Mateo, and from there tothe penitentiary or to the gallows, one or the other. "

"It will be neither, " Sorenson stated. 

"You're mistaken, but I shall not argue the matter with you. Keepwalking towards the horses. "

Sorenson's lips became compressed. He glanced down at his bleedinghand, shook the blood from his fingers. 

"I stay here, " said he. 

Weir went a step nearer and thrust his face forward, jaw set, eyessmoldering. 

"Go on, I say, " he exclaimed. 

But the other did not retreat before him or indeed move at all. Asneer lifted his gray mustache. 

"You have a gun; you're a killer; here I am unarmed and in yourpower, " he said. "You intend to take me in; I propose to stay here. IfI go to San Mateo, it will be as a dead man. I'll see whether you havethe nerve to shoot me down where I now stand. If you have, go to it. You can then take my body to town, but I'll not have paid the priceyou name and I'll have the satisfaction of knowing I beat you at thelast--in that, at least. Your bragging will be empty. Start yourshooting any time you please. " The tone spoke complete contempt. 

Weir said nothing. The defiance, the supreme audacity of thisassertion, coming so unexpectedly, surprised him and left him at aloss. He would not kill an unresisting man, even Sorenson, his worstenemy. Sorenson in his place probably would not have hesitated to doso, for he had no fine scruples in such matters; but for Steele Weirthe thing was no more possible than striking a woman or a child. 

It was not a question of nerve, as the other had stated. It was a testof brutality and consciencelessness. To shoot a man while escaping isone thing; to kill him while a prisoner, however contemptuous andbrazen, was another. But there are means other than bullets forhandling obstinate prisoners. 

Weir shifted his weapon so as to grasp the barrel and have the buttfree. 

"I'll leave your execution to the proper officials, if an executionis what you want, " he said. "Now will you go?" he demanded, threateningly. 

His foe gazed at the clubbed pistol and turned as if to yield. Nextinstant he whirled, lunging at Weir and flinging his arms about hiscaptor. An exultant exclamation slipped from his lips; his hot breathfell on the engineer's cheek; his eyes glared into those of the manhis arms encircled. He had tricked Weir by his pretense of obstinacy, led him to weaken his guard and had him in his grasp. 

Weir braced himself to resist the man's effort to force him down. Strong arms the other had, now doubly strengthened by hate and abelief in victory. All the power of Sorenson's great body was exertedto lift him off his feet, crush him in a terrific bear-hug, put him onhis back and render him helpless; and Weir in his turn was tensing hismuscles and arching his frame with every ounce of his lean, iron-likeframe. 

Thus they swayed and struggled in the moonlight, without witnesses. Asinister silent fight, marked only by their fierce breathing andfiercer heart-beats. The pistol had dropped from Steele Weir's hand;instead of attempting to break the other's hold he had yielded to itand pushing his own arms forward had clasped his hands behindSorenson's back in the wrestler's true defense to such an attack. 

Once Sorenson almost had him on his knees, but by a quick powerfulupthrust of his legs he regained his upright position. However, it hadbeen a close shave for Weir, for he well knew that his opponent woulduse any tactics, fair or foul, to kill him if he once lay on hisback. 

"You hound from hell!" Sorenson snarled. "You crippled my boy, and youshall die for that. You've ruined me in San Mateo, and you shall diefor that. You jailed Burkhardt and poisoned Gordon and shot Vorse, andyou shall die for that. I'm going to choke the life out of you, andgrind your dead head into the dust, and then spit on you. That's howI treat snakes. Say your prayers, if you know any, for you'll neverget another chance. Your friends won't recognize your remains when I'mdone with you. "

Venomous and impassioned, all the hate in the man's heart flowed forthin a fuming stream. For hate and murderous desire was all that wasleft him in the wreck of life caused by the engineer. If he could nolonger rule, he could at least destroy. 

Weir had made no response to the fierce imprecations. He was workinghis hands upward, straining his arms so as to reach Sorenson's head. 

"When the coyotes are gnawing your skull, " Sorenson went on, raging, "when the worms are feeding on you----"

The words died in a gurgle of pain. Weir's hands had closed about histemples, a finger sunk in each eye, forcing his head back. Sorensonshook himself frantically to break the torturing hold. His head wentfarther and farther back as if it seemed his neck would snap; hismouth opened to gasp, "Oh, God!" and all at once his hug slippedapart. 

Instantly Weir tripped him, falling on top. Reaching out like a flashhe seized his pistol lying on the ground and brought it down on thehead of his enemy, who momentarily blinded and suffering could notresist. Sorenson went limp. From the savage beast of a minute beforehe had been changed to a huge, motionless, sprawling figure, with faceupturned to the moon. 

And on that face the victor of the life and death struggle could stillbehold, through the contorted lines stamped by pain, the man's brutalpassion and fixed malevolence. 

Weir arose. 

"You felt the hound of hell's teeth, " he muttered. 

With thongs from one of the saddles he bound Sorenson's hands, pullingthe knots tight and hard. The prostrate man moaned, opened his eyes. Weir jerked him dazed and staggering to his feet. 

"Up into the saddle with you if you don't want another rap on thehead, " Steele ordered, bruskly. "And go straight this time. From nowon I'll take you at your word and put a hole through your black heartif you try any more tricks. "

When his prisoner was mounted, he fastened his ankles together byanother thong under the belly of the pony. Weir was taking no chances. Up into his own saddle then he swung himself. 

No exultant curses now came from his captive's lips. 

CHAPTER XXXI

A FINAL CHALLENGE

The hour was drawing near midnight when Weir and his prisoner enteredthe town. Most of the women and children of the crowd of Mexicans hadgone to their homes, but men yet remained before the court house andin the street, discussing and arguing the exciting events of thenight. 

In some mysterious manner knowledge that Burkhardt and not Weir wasthe prisoner in the jail, together with news of Judge Gordon's suicideand Vorse's death, had spread from mouth to mouth. Amazement andincredulity had been followed by an aroused feeling of anger, for tothe Mexicans it appeared that the crushing blow dealt the leaders ofthe town was the arbitrary act of the man they believed a lawlessgun-man. Were not Weir's foremen and engineers guarding the jail? Menwho were strangers, not even citizens of the county?

But though an undercurrent of feeling ran among the talking groups, gradually increasing as the time passed, yet was there no activedesire on the part of all or a concerted movement to drive away theseeming invaders of the law. For any such attempt a strong leader wasnecessary. There was none: Madden frowned upon them, only saying as hemoved about that he was executing the law; Sorenson, the dominatingfigure of the town, and Burkhardt's, Vorse's and Gordon's friend, wasstrangely absent. 

The determined guard about the jail was in itself a deterrent to mobaction. Meyers had brought twenty or more men from camp, armed andalert, who with those already about the building constituted a forceto make any crowd of Mexicans, however angry, think twice beforeseeking to rescue prisoners. But the wish and the spirit were notlacking. Employees of the plotters, men who had received favors fromSorenson or Vorse or Burkhardt, Mexicans of a naturally vicious andunruly temper, were all for rushing the jail. The great number of thepeople, however, peaceful and indolent, preferred to contentthemselves with satisfying their curiosity by talk instead of seekinga taste of blood. And so as a result of this divided opinion thehostility for Weir had not expressed itself in an effort to assail thekeepers of the jail. 

When he was discovered to have returned to town, this angry feelingassumed a menacing form. He approached the court house by the sidestreet, Sorenson riding at his side, for it was his plan to lodge hisprisoner in the Jail with as much secrecy as possible. Nevertheless inthis he was disappointed; men saw him arrive, assist his prisoner toalight and climb the board fence about the yard; and drawn by theexpectation of new events the nearer groups hastened forward. 

Weir impelled his man towards the jail. 

"Stand back, " he commanded the Mexicans. 

The latter at first stared in astonishment at beholding the pair, oneof whom was San Mateo's foremost citizen, now sullenly advancing withwrists bound. Exclamations burst from their lips. 

At that a flash of hope filled Sorenson's breast. 

"To my rescue, friends!" he cried, beginning to struggle. 

Weir jerked him ahead fiercely and cast fiercer looks at theMexicans. 

"This man is under arrest. And remember I can still shoot straight, "he warned. 

Towards him came Madden running, who in Weir's disappearance earlierin the night he had guessed a pursuit of the cattleman and hadtherefore returned to the jail. He placed himself at Sorenson'sright. 

"Whoever tries to take Sorenson from the hands of the law does so athis own peril, " he exclaimed. 

A few mocking shouts resulted. These were gradually increased untilthe Mexicans, now being joined by scores of others from the street, became a howling, cursing, hysterical mob, crying Sorenson andBurkhardt's innocence, calling down imprecations on the heads of thesheriff and the engineer, stirred by certain lawless spirits to wilderand wilder passion. 

Weir and Madden had not been standing still, for the crowd was not yetnumerous enough at first or bold enough to attack. Moreover the twomen held their pistols well in view. Forcing Sorenson ahead, drivingapart those who blocked their way, they pushed across the yard untilbut a few paces from the jail. 

One Mexican, a ranch hand from one of Vorse's ranches, wearing a greathigh-peaked felt hat and chaps, insolently thrust himself before thetrio, spitting at Weir's face and in Spanish begging companions tohelp him release Sorenson. His right hand was resting on his holsteras if but awaiting an excuse to use his gun. 

"Get to one side, " was Weir's harsh order. 

The man's answer was a string of foul curses. Like a panther theengineer leaped forward and struck the fellow on the side of his headwith revolver barrel, dropping him where he stood. 

As the crowd remained suddenly mute, unmoving, their howls checked bythis swift reprisal, Weir spoke to Madden:

"Quick! To the door!"

Each with an arm in Sorenson's, they made a run for the jail, passedthrough the line of armed guards and for the moment were safe. Thesheriff lost no time in dragging the prisoner inside and whenpresently he stepped forth again, locking the door after him, heshowed a relieved face. 

"I put irons on him, hands and feet, " he informed Weir. "He's out ofthe way at any rate if we're in for a row. "

That was exactly what appeared in prospect. Only the rifles in thegrip of the two dozen men about the jail kept the now thoroughlyaroused mob from rushing forward. From yelling it had changed to lowfierce murmurs that bespoke a more desperate mood. 

"We ought to move the men somewhere else, " Steele Weir stated. "Prettysoon they'll go for arms and then we'll have real trouble. "

"I arranged while you were gone to transfer them to the county seat inthe next county, " Madden said. "Telephoned the sheriff; he's expectingthem. To-morrow we can take them to Santa Fé, out of this part of thecountry till time for their trial. I placed the automobile your manbrought Burkhardt in from the dam and another machine back in thealley; they are there now in the shadow. "

"Good. The quicker you take them, the better. They ought to be gaggedwhen brought out. Get them here to the door; the men who are to driveshould have the cars ready, engines going----"

"That's fixed. Your superintendent will drive one car and one of theengineers the other; they can slip back there at once. Six more of theguards are to go with us. "

"All right. You know whom you want. Station them here at the door torush the prisoners back the instant you're ready. Have them go roundto the rear on the dark side of the jail; they should gain a goodstart before they're discovered. "

Madden called from the line Atkinson and the men whom he had chosen toaccompany him on the night ride. A brief parley followed. Then he andtwo of the engineers went inside the jail, while the superintendentand one young fellow stole away in the shadows towards the spot wherestood the cars. 

Meanwhile the throng had grown until it filled all the space about therear of the court house and formed a mass of human bodies on which thecheckered moonlight played reaching to within half a dozen paces ofthe jail. A shot rang out and a bullet struck the jail. It was like amatch lighted near powder, that if allowed to burn would set off anexplosion. One shot would lead to others from reckless spirits, to avolley and in the end to an onslaught. 

Perhaps that was the reasoning and the purpose of the man who hadfired. In any case, it must not be repeated. 

Weir strode forward towards the crowd. 

"If that man, or any of you, want to shoot this out with me, let himshow himself, " he said, threateningly and swinging the muzzle of hisweapon along the line of faces. 

A quick retreat on the part of those nearest marked the respect withwhich it was considered. Frantically they strove to push further backinto the mob, clawing and elbowing. 

"If you try any more shots, " he continued, speaking in Spanish asbefore, "those rifles will open fire. " He paused to allow thisinformation to have full effect. "Finally, if you attempt wreckingthis jail, the three hundred workmen from the dam will march down toSan Mateo and teach you proper observance of the law. If you're reallylooking for trouble, those three hundred men will give this towntrouble that will be remembered for twenty years. "

Standing there in the moonlight between the two parties, between thethin line of sentinels about the jail and the dense mob in front, Steele Weir's action seemed the height of rashness. A rush of theMexicans and he would be overwhelmed, a cowardly shot from somewherein the rear and he might be killed. It was like inviting disaster. 

If, however, he recognized his danger, he gave no sign of it. By thepower of his gun and sheer boldness he faced them, calm, fearless, masterful. His unexpected advance had surprised the Mexicans, leftthem confused and uncertain. Wild and sinister tales concerning hisprowess magnified him in their eyes notwithstanding their animosity. Now they seemed to feel his iron will beating against their faces. 

During the pause that ensued Weir heard the jail door open. Madden waspreparing to take his prisoners out. 

"I'm not seeking trouble, but I'm not avoiding it, " the engineerproceeded, for this was the critical minute, and he sought to have alleyes focused upon him instead of upon the activity at his back. "Thesheriff represents the law here in San Mateo, and I give you plainwarning that every man who attempts violence to-night will be calledupon to pay the account. By to-morrow the Governor may have soldiersstationed in your houses and in your streets, for the prisoners arenow the prisoners of the state, arrested for stealing cattle----"

That was a happy inspiration. Had Weir stated the whole category ofSorenson's and Burkhardt's crimes, including murder and dynamiting, he could not have struck so shrewdly as in naming the sin ofcattle-stealing. For this was a cattle country and even the mostignorant Mexican grasped the significance of this charge. 

A visible stir answered the statement. 

"For stealing cattle from other men"--he did not trouble to mentionthe fact the crime had occurred thirty years previous--"and for thatand other things Sheriff Madden has arrested them. Because they arerich, their guilt is all the worse. Perhaps they have taken cattlebelonging to you, who knows? That may come out in their trial; if theyhave taken them, you shall have them back. "

From the rear of the grounds came the low sounds of automobile enginesbeing started. Weir dared not look about to learn if Madden and hisparty were safely on their way thither. As for the Mexicans, thespeaker's words had created a sensation. For men were there who ownedsmall herds now feeding on the range, and from anger their mindsyielded to sudden anxiety; each saw himself a possible sufferer fromcattle depredations; and in the minds of these, at least, thought ofloss supplanted thought of Sorenson and Burkhardt. 

"I helped Sheriff Madden arrest these men because they stole cattle, possibly some of your steers among them. Is that why you would like tolynch me, as I've heard you wanted to do?" he demanded, savagely. "Because I save your animals? Or is it because I shot that renegadeMexican whom Ed Sorenson hired to try and kill me? Ed Sorenson, yes. Sheriff Madden has the knowledge of it. Not only would Sorenson thefather like to see me die because I know about his cattle-stealing, but Ed Sorenson, the son, hired that strange Mexican to shoot me fromthe dark because I stopped him from trying to steal a girl. Has EdSorenson left your daughters alone? I would save your daughters fromhis evil hands, as I would your cattle from his father's. "

A man all at once pushed forth from the crowd, wrathfully elbowing hisway among neighbors. He was Naharo, the Mexican who had chatted oncewith Martinez in the latter's office. 

"It is true, " he shouted, facing his countrymen. "I, Naharo, vow itthe truth. For I saw this engineer take a young girl away from EdSorenson in the restaurant at Bowenville that the scoundrel intendedto seduce. It is so, the truth; the engineer saved her. And are therenot men among you"--his voice gained a savage, rasping note--"whosegirls have been betrayed by the cattle-stealing Sorenson's son?"

"Where is he--where is he now?" some one shouted, angrily. It mighthave been a father who stood in Naharo's case. 

"He lies crippled, " Weir stated. "Last night he tried to steal yetanother girl from San Mateo, and fleeing when overtaken was pitchedfrom his car and crushed against a rock. He will steal no moredaughters of San Mateo. "

Sensation on sensation. The crowd fairly hummed with new excitementresulting from these disclosures. Ed Sorenson's ways were known tomost and the revelations seemed true to his character; and frombelieving the statements of the son to accepting those concerning thefather was but a step. Cattle--girls! It began to look as if thisengineer was in the right. 

With half of his attention Weir was harkening for the sound ofstarting automobiles. He had heard the scuffle of feet when the partyslipped away from the jail door into the shadows. He had almostmeasured their passage to the alley. Ah, and now! There was a quickgrind of gears, the pop of exhausts, then a dying of the sounds as thecars left the grounds. 

"You wished to kill me when you came here, but I had not then and havenot now any intention of dying, " he stated. "For I have work todo--and work for you if you want it. Instead of stealing your cattleand daughters as the Sorensons did, I'll give you jobs. We are aboutto begin digging canals and ditches on the mesa; I want men andteams--you and yours at good pay for a good day's work. Our quarrel ofthe past need not be remembered. I have never been your enemy, onlythe enemy of the four men who deceived and oppressed you. And now theyare gone, two dead and two off to be tried for their crimes. "

Weir stood for a moment silent, while they as silently stared at him. 

"Ha, bueno, we shall work!" Naharo exclaimed. 

"We shall work and build your ditches, señor, " cried a score ofvoices. 

Then the cry swelled to a noisy chorus. The crowd began to stir anddisintegrate and break into groups, gesticulating, talking, discussingall the astonishing items of news given by the engineer, from theparticulars of the Sorensons' depravity to announcement of renewedhire. 

"Señor, we hold you in greatest respect, " said a man to Weir, smilingin friendly fashion. 

"And also your pistol, " said a companion, laughing. 

"No one will need to wear pistols here in San Mateo from now on, " wasthe answer. And he politely bade them good-night. 

His belief was sincere. San Mateo had gained an end of violence, andhenceforth his weapon would gather dust. He had triumphed. Not onlyhad he subdued his enemies, but he had won the good will of thepeople. 

One thing more alone remained to be won to bring him utter happiness. 

CHAPTER XXXII

THE RECLUSE

As Weir drove his car homeward through the moonlight, he knew that atlast the dark shadow upon his life had passed forever. Memoriespoignant and sad, memories bitter and stern, returned again and againto his mind; but these henceforth with time would soften and change. Of these his last visit to his father was most vivid, that day inspring that had proved their last together.... 

 * * * * *

He had been there with his father for a week, and now must go. He waschopping wood that morning, with his father looking on. Steele hadcast a measuring glance at the pile of wood cut, then wiped the finedew of perspiration from his brow, buried the ax blade in thechopping-log and seated himself upon a sawn block. A smile shapeditself upon his lips. Though he never chopped wood now except on theserare visits to his recluse father's cabin here on the forestedmountain side, his tall lean figure was as tough and wiry as ever, hisarm as tireless, his eye as true to cut the exact line. There was yetno softening of his fibers or fat on his ribs, and there would beneither if he had anything to say about it. 

From the little Idaho town in the valley below, which he viewedthrough the clearing before the cabin, his gaze came around to hisfather seated on the doorstep. Taciturn and brooding the latter hadalways been, but the pity and sorrow struck at the son's heart as heperceived what a mere shell of a man now sat there, gray-haired, bent, fleshless, consumed body and soul by the destroying acid of some darksecret. Even when a lad Steele Weir had sensed the mystery cloudinghis father's life. Like an evil spell it had condemned them tosolitude here in the mountains, until Steele's youth at last rebelledand he had departed, hungry for schooling, for human society and for awider field of action. 

What that secret might be he had for years not allowed himself tospeculate. Unbidden at times the memory of certain revealing looks oracts of his father's floated into his mind:--a dread if not terrorthat on occasion dilated the elder man's eyes, and a steadfast drivingof himself at work as if to obliterate painful and despairingthoughts, and an uneasy, furtive vigilance when forced to visit town. Once when a stranger, a short heavy-set bearded man, had unexpectedlyappeared at the door, his father had leaped for the revolver hangingin its holster on the wall. 

On catching a second view of the chance visitor he had exclaimed, "NotBurkhardt after all!" With which he burst into a wild laugh, theshrill mirthless laugh of a man suddenly freed of a terrible fear. However, as he returned the gun-belt to its place, his hand shook sothat he pawed all around the nail on which it was accustomed to hang. 

Steele Weir would never forget that moment of panic, his father'sspring to the wall and following laugh--the only laugh he hadheard from those lips; and though but twelve years old at the timehe could not misread the episode. On another occasion he found hisfather kneeling at the grave under the giant pine beyond thecabin--the grave of the gentle mother of whom Steele had but dimrecollections--and his father's hands were clasped, his head bowed. With an infinite yearning he had longed to creep forward andcomfort him by his presence, by a clasp of the hand, but therecollection of his father's habitual chill reserve daunted him andhe stole away. 

On his own life the mystery had left its gloomy impress. A solitaryand joyless boyhood, overhung by he knew not what danger, haunted by aparent's lurking fear and anguish, had made him a silent, cold, everwatchful man, never entirely free from the expectation that hisfather's sealed past at some instant would open and confront him withthe terrible facts. For that reason he felt that the success he hadgained as an engineer, a success won by relentless toil and solidability, rested on a quicksand. For that cause he had welcomedengineering projects full of danger and by his indifference to thatdanger gained his name "Cold Steel. "

Now on this day with his father he once again put the question healways asked on his visits, and with no more hope of a consentingreply than before. 

"I must be going to-morrow. Won't you come along with me this time, father? I want you to live with me, so that I can look after you andbe with you. We can fix up a good cabin at the engineering camp. You're not so strong as you were; you could fall sick here and die andnever a person know it. I doubt if you spend, making yourselfcomfortable, one dollar in ten of the money I send you. You would beinterested in the building of this big irrigation project I'm todirect. "

His father appeared to shudder. 

"No, no, " he muttered. "I've lived here and I'll die here. "

"That's what I'm afraid of, " Steele responded. "Afraid you may becomesick and die for lack of care. "

"No. I'll remain, my son. "

That was conclusive. It was the answer of not only thirty years ofliving at the spot, but of his secret dread. Steele saw once more thestark fear in his eyes, the fear of contact with men, of venturing outinto the world, of precipitating fate. 

For a time his father plucked his white unkempt beard with unsteadyhand. 

"Where's the place you're going this time?" he presently inquired, without real interest. 

"New Mexico. "

On the elder's face appeared suddenly a gray shadow as if the bloodwere ebbing from his heart. 

"Where in New Mexico?" he whispered. 

"The town of San Mateo. "

His father struggled to his feet. With one hand he clutched thedoorframe for support. The skin of his cheeks had gone a sicklywhite. 

"San Mateo--San Mateo!" he gasped. "Not there, not there, Steele! Keepaway, keep away, keep away! My God, not San Mateo--you!"

He swayed as if about to fall full length, gesturing blindly beforehis face as if to sweep away the thought, while his son ran towardshim. 

"Father, you're sick, " Steele exclaimed, putting an arm about theother. And, in truth, the elder man seemed fainting, ready tocollapse. "Come, let me help you in so you can lie down. I must bringa doctor. "

Steele almost carried him to the bed. On it his father sank, remainingwith closed eyes and scarcely breathing. 

"No doctor; bring no doctor, " he said painfully, at last. "I feel--Ifeel as if dying. "

"I must bring a doctor. And I have a flask of whiskey; let me pour youa little to revive your heart. "

The change the words wrought from passivity to action was startling. The elder Weir arose suddenly on elbow, glaring fiercely. 

"Whiskey, never! It brought me to this, it damned my life. If it hadnot been for whiskey----" Without finishing the words he fell back onthe bed. 

The loathing, the hatred, the utter horror of his exclamation, banished from his son's mind further thought of using this stimulant. 

"But the doctor?" he inquired, gently. 

"No use, Steele. I've been the same as a dead man for days. Justashes. I want to die; I want to lie by your mother there under the bigpine. And maybe I'll have peace--peace. "

Steele took in his own the wasted hand hanging from the bed. He heldit tight, with a feeling of infinite tragedy. 

"You'll be yourself again soon, " he said comfortingly, though withoutfaith in the assurance. 

His father's lips moved in a whisper. 

"No; my time is here at last, " said he. "But don't go to San Mateo, Steele, --don't go, don't go. Oh, my God, spare me that!"

"Would you have me break my word? I never have to any man, father. Iaccepted this offer and signed a contract. I'm morally bound; thesemen are depending on me. Were you ever at San Mateo? Was it somethingthat happened there that makes you fearful to have me go? San Mateo isa thousand miles from here. "

The face before him became like the face of a corpse. For an instantSteele's heart went cold in the belief that his father had died underthe effect of his declaration. But at last the eyelids raised, theeyes gazed at him. And all at once the features of the harsh visageseemed softened, changed, lightened by a dim illumination. 

"I see you now as you are, a man, stronger than I ever was, " hemurmured. "I lived in fear, but my fear was not for myself. Had I beenalone, nothing would have mattered after your mother died. But my fearwas for you--and of you. I was afraid your life would be blasted; Iwas in terror lest you should hate and despise me when you learned thetruth. So I sought to conceal it. "

"You had no need to fear that. "

"I see it now. Tell me everything or nothing as you wish about yourgoing to San Mateo to work; it will frighten me no longer. "

Steele briefly spoke of his new work there, of the magnitude of theproject and the desire he had had that his father might be with him. 

"I'm proud of you, " his father said. "God knows I have not been theparent I would or should have been. "

"It's enough for me if your heart's easy now. "

"I feel as if I were gaining peace at last and--and I must speak. InSan Mateo--ah, Steele, you will hear of me there, --you may have tofight the damning influence of my name and past, but I know now you'llcome through it. And all I pray for is that you can retain a littlelove for me despite everything. "

"Whatever it is I shall hear of my father, I should rather hear itfrom his lips than from strangers'. "

The hand in his closed spasmodically. For a long time nothing wassaid, and the only sound in the room was the ticking of the tin clockon the shelf busily measuring off the seconds of the old man's failingspan. To Steele it was as if his father was slowly summoning the fewremaining shreds of his fortitude to reveal the cancer of his past. 

"I'm a branded murderer, " he said at last, gasping. 

"But you never killed a man out of mere wanton desire to slay, " Steeleresponded firmly. "I too have killed men in fights in Mexico. Thatfact doesn't weight my mind. "

"In the line of your duty, in the line of your duty. But I was drunk. He was a friend. When I became sober, I saw him with a bullet hole inhis head. "

"Do you remember nothing of shooting him?"

"Nothing, nothing. "

"How do you know you killed him?" his son demanded with inexorablelogic. "What is the proof?"

A low groan escaped his father. 

"Men said I had killed him. But my own mind was blank. "

"Who were the men? Were they present at the time?"

"They were four--Sorenson, Vorse, Gordon, Burkhardt. "

"Were you arrested and tried?"

"No. They helped me to escape. Because of your mother, they said, andbecause they said they were my friends. But I never felt they werereally friends. For they were always against new-comers and wanted tokeep things in their own hands. You were only three or four years oldat that time, Steele, so you wouldn't remember anything about mattersthere. "

"What were you doing at San Mateo, father?"

Now that the hideous past at last stood uncovered the son was able toturn upon it his incisive mind; he would drag out and scrutinize everybone of the skeleton which had terrorized his father and shadowed hisown life Facts faced are never so dreadful as fears unmaterialized. And more, he sought with all the love of a son for circumstances thatwould mitigate, excuse, or even justify his father's act. 

"I was ranching, " was the low answer. "I had come to San Mateo twoyears before from the east, bringing you and your mother andconsiderable money. I bought a ranch and stocked it with cattle; I wasdoing well, in spite of the fact I was new to the country and thebusiness. Also I was making friends, and I had been nominated for thelegislature of the Territory to run against Gordon. But I had taken todrinking with the men I met, other cattlemen, because I fancied noharm in it. And then while in a drunken stupor I killed Jim Dent. "

"Had you quarreled with him?"

"Never, never--till that moment I killed Jim. They said I quarreledwith him then. But I remember nothing. Jim was my best friend; I wouldhave trusted him with my life. Even now I can't make it seem real Ishot him, though it must be true by those four witnesses. "

"What of your ranch? Your political nomination?"

"I withdrew from the latter; that was one of the terms made by Gordonon which they were to help me escape instead of turning me over forprosecution. And my ranch and cattle, I had to deed them over to thefour men too. "

"Then their friendship wasn't disinterested, " Steele said quickly, with suspicion dawning on his face. 

"They weren't really friends, I knew that. "

"How were they to arrange your escape?"

The senior Weir seemed to shudder at the question. 

"By bribing the sheriff and county attorney. I was then to leave thecountry at once, never showing my face again, or I should be arrested. I was still half dazed by whiskey and terror; I took your mother andyou and fled this far, when my money gave out. So here I've remainedever since, for here I could hide and here was her grave. "

"What's the last thing you remember of the circumstance previous tolearning Dent was dead?" he asked. 

"Ah, though I had been drinking I can remember clearly up to the timeI stopped playing poker with Jim and the four men, for we were losingand I felt they were working a crooked deal on us somehow. I asked Jimto quit also, for though I hadn't lost much he was losing fast andplaying recklessly. But he wouldn't drop out of the game, and whenVorse and Sorenson cursed me and said for me to mind my own business Iwent back to a table near the rear door and laid my head on my armsand went to sleep. When I was awake again, Vorse and Gordon wereholding me up by their table and Jim was dead on the floor. I had comeforward, they said, begun a big row with Dent and finally shot him. "

"Then the only witnesses were these four men who were gambling withhim, who cursed you when you attempted to persuade him to drop hiscards, " Steele proceeded, "one of whom was your political adversary, men who were old-timers and opposed to new-comers, who pretended to beyour friends but took your ranch and cattle. It begins to look to meas if they not only killed your friend Dent but double-crossed you inthe bargain. Did you look in your gun afterwards?"

"No. I was sick with the horror of the accusation, I tell you, Steele. I had no way to deny it; it seemed indeed as if I must have killedhim. And from that day until this I've never had the courage of soulto reload my pistol, or even clean it. It hangs there on the wall withthe very shells, two empty, the rest unfired, that it carried that dayin San Mateo. "

Weir sprang up and crossed to the nail where hung the weapon. Thelatter he drew from the holster and broke open, so that the cartridgeswere ejected into his hand. For an instant he stared at them, but atlength walked to the bed before which he extended his palm. 

"Look--look for yourself!" he exclaimed hoarsely. "You never killedJim Dent; drunk or sober, you never killed any one. You're not amurderer. You're the innocent victim of those four infamousscoundrels; they deceived you, they ruined your life; and theirdamnable fraud not only killed my mother in her youth, as I guess, bygrief and despair, but has brought you now to your death too. "

His father had raised himself on an arm to gaze incredulously at thesix unfired cartridges lying in Weir's palm. Then all at once hisbearded lips trembled and a great light of joy flashed upon his face. 

"Innocent--innocent!" he whispered. "Steele, my son, --Helen, my wife!No stain on my soul!"

As he sank back Steele's arms caught him. He did not speak again, buthis eyes rested radiantly on his boy's before they glazed in death. Fear had passed from them, forever. 

CHAPTER XXXIII

UNDER THE MOON

Lights still were burning at headquarters when Steele Weir slowlydrove his runabout up the hillside slope to the dam camp. The men whohad acted as guards about the jail, except those who went with Madden, were somewhere on the road behind him, returning home in the wagons. Areaction of mind and body had set in for Weir; after the previousnight's loss of sleep and prolonged exertions, after the swiftsuccession of dramatic events, after the tremendous call that had beenmade upon his brain power, nervous force and will, he experienced astrange unrest of spirit. His triumph seemed yet incomplete, somehowunsatisfying. 

It was as he approached the camp that he saw a slender girlish figuresitting on a rock in the moonlight. He swung his car off the roadbeside the spot where Janet Hosmer sat. 

"What, you are still awake?" he asked, with a smile. 

"Could I sleep while not knowing what was happening or what danger youmight be in?" she returned. "Mr. Pollock said we must not think ofreturning home until quiet was restored in San Mateo. One of theengineer's houses was given to us by Mr. Meyers before he left, whereMary and I could sleep. But I could not close my eyes. So much hadhappened, so much was yet going on! So I came out here to be alone andto think and watch. "

"And your father?"

"He's attending the wounded Mexicans in the store. "

Steel alighted and tossing his hat upon the car seat gazed out overthe mesa, misty in the moonlight. 

"There will be no more trouble, " said he. "Sorenson and Burkhardt areMadden's prisoners, and on their way to a place of safe-keeping inanother county. Vorse is dead. The people in town have a fairly goodunderstanding of matters now, I think. "

"How in the world did such a change of opinion occur?" Janetexclaimed. 

"I had a little talk with the crowd and made explanations. The feelingfor me was almost friendly when I left; what enmity remains will soondie out, I'm sure. "

Though unaware from Steele Weir's laconic statement of what hadactually occurred, the girl divined that his words concealed vastlymore than their surface purport. With the general hostility againstthe engineer that had existed, for him to swing the community to hisside meant a dramatic moment and a remarkable moral conquest. 

"Your friends have always known you would win, " she said, smiling upat him. 

He seated himself on the rock beside her. 

"It's but a short time ago, Janet, that I had no friends, or sofew they could be counted on the fingers of one hand. Businessacquaintances, yes. Professional companions, yes. Men who perhapsrespected my ability as an engineer, yes. But real friends, scarcelyone. And now I think I have gained some, which is the greatestsatisfaction I have from all that has happened. After years thependulum has swung to my side. Do you know the hour my luck changed?"

Janet shook her head wonderingly. 

"No, I can't even guess, " said she. 

"Well, it was that afternoon, and that moment, I found you sitting inyour stalled car in the creek down there. That was the beginning. Fromthat time things began to run in my favor and they haven't ceased todo so for a moment since, I now see looking back over events. Youbrought good luck to me that day in your car. "

"What an extraordinary idea! Then at bottom you're superstitious, "Janet replied. "I shall have to give you a new name; I must no longercall you 'Cold Steel. '"

"I really never liked that name, " Weir said quickly. "Perhaps I wascold steel once, but I have changed along with everything else. Andyou're responsible for that too. "

Janet leaned forward and looked into his eyes. 

"You were never truly harsh to any one except those who deserved it, "she said. "I know! You would never have been so quick to help MaryJohnson or me, or others who needed help, if your heart was not alwaysgenerous and sympathetic. Only against evil were you as steel, and inmoments requiring supreme courage and sacrifice. And that's how yougained the name before you ever came here. "

"Anyway I've changed, " said he. "I'm out from under the cloud which Ifelt always hung above me. As I say, you brought me good luck thatday--and I see clearly that I shall continue to be superstitious. "

"Why, all occasion for that is past now. "

"No, " said Steele Weir. "No, less than ever. For I'm certain you holdmy good fortune in your hand yet, and will continue to hold it. Andthat means----"

He paused, regarding her so intensely that the blood beat up into herface. There was no mistaking that look and it thrilled her to thesoul. 

"Yes?" she managed to say. 

"It means my happiness, now and for all time to come, " he went on. "See, I shall have accomplished what I set out to do and what injustice had to be done, bringing these men to punishment--topunishment in one form or another. I shall have given my employer, thecompany, service worthy of the hire. I shall have rid you and SanMateo of an unscrupulous parasite in the person of Ed Sorenson, thoughmy persecution of him now shall stop and I shall leave him enough outof the property recovered from his father to live in comfort somewherewith his mother. 

"Mr. Pollock states I shall have no trouble in getting legal title andpossession of most of the wealth of these four men, --I and anyrelatives of the dead Jim Dent who can be found. For thirty years'accumulated interest charges owing me will swallow up all the men'sproperties. That, however, is only a material victory. I shall haverelieved Johnson of fear of financial constraint; and saved hisdaughter from a serious mistake. I shall have started Martinez on theroad to success--and I should not be surprised if he prospered, becamethe leading attorney in this county, was elected judge and so on. 

"In a way, too, I shall have helped to remove the oppressive weight ofthese men, Sorenson, Burkhardt, Judge Gordon and Vorse, with theirsinister influence, from this community and region. They have alwaysheld the natives in more or less open subjection, financial, political, and moral. There should be a freer air in San Mateohenceforth. The people will have a chance to grow. They no longer willfeel the threat of brutal masters always over them; and with thecompletion of the irrigation project and the infusion of new settlersthey will become better citizens. 

"I see all this, " he concluded. "It pleases me; it gives me cause forsatisfaction. But it doesn't give me the happiness I want, or thelove. That is alone in your hands to bestow. "

Janet felt herself trembling; she could not speak. 

"I think I felt the stirring of love from the moment I saw you thereat the ford, " he exclaimed. "Last night when I knew that wretch hadcarried you off to the mountains, I could have torn him limb fromlimb. That was my love speaking, Janet. If I should have to go throughlife without you--oh, the thought is too bitter to dwell on!--then Ishould think life not worth living. But I have imagined that you mighthave for me a little----"

Janet swiftly clasped his hand with her own. 

"I love you, " she cried softly. "I was sitting here when you camebecause I loved you. If I am necessary to your happiness, you also arenecessary to mine. I honor you for what you have done and love you forwhat you are, a strong true heart. "

"Ah, Janet, you give me the greatest joy in the world, " he whispered. "Love--that is more than all. "

His arms drew her to his breast. Her lips went to his in consecrationof that love. Their hearts beat the rapture of that love. 

Over the silent peaceful mountains the moon spread its effulgentlight. Over the mesa that was no more to know the fierce sound ofstrife. Over the town, at last free of its avaricious masters, free ofthe savage spirit of an outlaw time. Over the Burntwood River flowingin a shimmering band to the horizon. Over the camp where centered somany men's plans and labors. And over the lovers, chief of all, thatlight fell as in a silvery halo. 

THE END