climate’s more agreeable. If they don’t—well, they’ll get what Ed Gunn the outlaw got, when he shot this finger off. They hanged him afterward.”

Mariel, puzzled, shook her head.

“I don’t know that I quite get your point of view out here,” she told Jess soberly. “At home when anything like this happens, we go to the proper authorities, and they do something about it. Here you seem to take things into your own hands, without regard for authorities—that is, if you don’t actually oppose the authorities, as in the case of the forest rangers.”

Jess turned in his saddle and peered at her searchingly.

“Did Otis tell you about our trouble with the ranger here?”

“That picturesque old cowboy, Mr. Sample, told me about some bloodthirsty plot which was being concocted to frighten the ranger into leaving this region. I think it’s a cowardly thing to do!”

“Old Simp?” Jess laughed. “He shoots off his mouth just to hear himself talk. I wouldn’t believe everything he says, Miss Mariel.”

“Then it isn’t true?”

“Well—” Jess hesitated. Without answering her question, he asked: “Did old Simp mention—er—anyone in particular?”

“I think he spoke of their drawing lots to choose one of their number to deliver the threat to the ranger. But I believe he said the man refused to be a party to the outrageous proceeding.”

“Did he mention any names?”

“No, I think not. Why? Do you know the man?”

Jess grunted. “Now, Miss Mariel, you’re asking me to tell you something I shouldn’t.”

Mariel lifted her eyebrows. “I beg your pardon, Mr. Bledsoe. I have no desire to pry into any of your secrets.... Look at those black clouds. Don’t you think we’d better turn back to the far—ranch, I mean?”

Jess was worried, and showed it.

“You wouldn’t want me to turn talebearer, would you, Miss Mariel?” he asked her.

“Not at all,” Mariel replied coolly, reining in her horse. “Don’t you think it’s going to rain?”

Jess laid a gloved hand on her bridle.

 Prev. P 21/51 next