rk."

Dorothy was opposed to the idea and she said so, but her opinion was
overridden by the two men. Trowbridge declared that there was absolutely
nothing to fear from Sheriff Thomas, at least immediately.

"I'm positive of that," he summed up. "If there was any new move on
foot, I'd have heard of it."

"That may be," Dorothy argued, "but you know Senator Rexhill is behind
him to urge him on."

"That's another man we ought to run out of this neighborhood,"
Trowbridge declared. "The only trouble is that the old fox has laid so
low that we haven't anything definite on him. We can suspect all we
like; but when it comes right down to facts, he has us guessing. We
can't prove a thing against him, and he's too big game to flush without
powder. Well, we'd better be off."

"Stay a while," Wade urged. "It's early yet. I didn't mean to hurry you
when I spoke of going out to the claim. I've got plenty of time."

"I haven't told him about the gold," Dorothy whispered, as he helped her
into her saddle. "I thought you might want to keep it quiet for the
present."

"Sure, we'll tell him," he said, pressing her hand. "We're all on the
same side in this business."

He explained his good fortune to Trowbridge, who was delighted and
enthusiastic over the prospect of the vein impinging upon his own range.

"Well, that _is_ some luck, eh?" Trowbridge skillfully managed his
horse, which was high-spirited enough to still be sportive in spite of
the long ride of the morning. "Every cloud's got a silver lining, as the
poet says. And another thing, it shows Rexhill's real motive, don't
forget that. Oh, we'll get 'em by and by. Sure thing, we will. Well, so
long."

"So long, Lem! Call on us when you want us."

"Good-by!" Dorothy waved to him as the horses sped away in the direction
of Crawling Water.

Wade watched them out of sight, and then entered the house to tell
Santry that he would not be needed on the afternoon trip to the timber
claim. The old man growled a little at the idea of Wade going alone,
but he finally gave in.

"I'll take my gun and keep my eye peeled," his employer promised. "If I
can't stand off trouble until I get home, or you can get to me, I'll
lose my bet. You've got your work to do, Bill. If you're going to nurse
me all the time, I'll have to get another foreman to run the crew."

He rode away, then, toward the foothills, confident of his ability to
look after himself in case of trouble. There was nothi