since the beginning. He's been running them in some sort of
partnership with the men at the Fort. He was Allan's partner, if I'm
wise to anything. He was Allan's partner and Murray's. And Allan was
murdered right here. He was murdered by these poor darn neches. And
the brain behind them was Louis Creal's. Do you get it now? Oh, it's
easy. That half-breed's turned, as they always turn when it suits
them. He's turned on his partners. And Murray knows it. That's why
Murray's got in his arms. It's clear as daylight. There's a
three-cornered scrap coming. Murray's going to clean out this outfit,
or lose his grip on the gold lying on this river for the picking up.
And Murray don't figger to lose a thing without a mighty big kick--and
not gold anyway. This feller, Creal, located us, and figgers to wipe
us off his slate. See? Say, Bill, I guessed long ago Bell River was
going to hand us some secrets. I guessed it would tell us how Allan
Mowbray died. Well, Louis Creal's going to pay. He's going to pay
good. Murray's wise. Gee, I can't but admire. Another feller would
have shouted. Another feller would have told the womenfolk all he
discovered when he found Allan Mowbray murdered. Can't you get his
play? He was Allan's friend. He kind of hoped to marry Jessie--some
day. He worked the whole thing out. He guessed he'd scare Mrs.
Mowbray and Jessie to death if he told them all that had happened. He
didn't want them scared, or they might quit the place. So he just
blamed the neches, and let if go at that. He handled the proposition
himself. There was Alec. He didn't guess it would be good Alec
butting in. Alec, for all he's Jessie's brother, wasn't bright. He
might get killed even. He'd be in the way--anyway. So he got him
clear of the Fort. Then he got a free hand. He shipped in an arsenal
of weapons, and he's going to outfit a big force. He's coming along up
here later, and it'll be him and Creal to the death. And it's odds on
Murray. Then the folk at the Fort can help themselves all they need,
and the world won't be any the wiser. It's a great play. But Alec's
death has queered it some. Do you get it--all? It's clear--clear as
daylight."

"Ye-es." Again came that hesitating affirmative. But then Bill was
older, and perhaps less impressionable.

Again Kars missed the hesitation.

"Good," he said. "Now we'll get busy. Maybe we'll save Murray a deal
of trouble. He'd got me wo