n', an' I did!"

"Lawler, you're free as the air! If there's any more of this talk about
chargin' you with killin' them two guys, an' you don't salivate them
that's doin' the talkin', I will!"

After his first quick glance at Moreton, Lawler looked at Della. The
deep amusement Lawler felt over the knowledge that the sheriff had
overheard Della, and that the woman's evidence would now be discredited,
was revealed in his smile as he watched her.

She saw it. She also understood that she had failed. But she veiled her
chagrin and disappointment behind a scornful smile.

"Framed!" she said. "And it was crude work, too--wasn't it, Lawler? I
should have been more careful. Ha, ha! Lawler, I should have known you
would do something like this--after what happened in the line cabin. And
I let you trick me!"

She raised her head, disdaining to glance at Lawler as she walked to the
door, in front of which Moreton was standing.

She smiled broadly at the latter. "Mr. Sheriff," she said, evenly; "if
you will stand aside, I shall be glad to leave you."

Moreton grinned, admiringly. "You've sure got a heap of nerve, ma'am,"
he complimented; "I'll say that for you! I don't know what your game is,
but you're mighty clever--though you're wastin' your time out here in
the sagebrush. You ought to stay East--where there's a lot more rummies
than there is out here!"

He opened the door, and bowed her out with extravagant politeness. Then,
when she had gone, he motioned Lawler toward the door.

"Jail's empty, Kane. But I reckon we'd better play this deal safe.
Dorgan, the county prosecutor, is in his office. We'll go down to see
him, an' I'll have him make a record of what happened here. Then, if I
happen to get bumped off this here planet them scum can't come back at
you, sayin' this never came off!"

Lawler accompanied Moreton to the office of the prosecutor, who took the
depositions of both men, attested the document and placed it in the
office safe.

"So that's the kind of a dame she is--eh?" grinned the official. "Well,
she don't look it. But you never can tell--can you?"

CHAPTER XXXII

RED KING RUNS

Sheriff Moreton had left Red King at the livery stable, and after Lawler
had thanked the sheriff for his part in the little drama that had just
been played, he walked to the stable, saddled and bridled the big horse,
mounted and rode out of town, toward the Circle L.

While grim tragedy had lurked over the inciden