Her eyes brightened. It lacked seven
minutes to six. As Bud dropped the canvas bag into her hands she
flashed at him the most wonderful, radiant smile that the long horseman
had ever seen. She gripped his lean, brown hand hard in hers.

"Bud, you're a brick!" she cried.

Mrs. Langworthy had just come out with Hampton, Trevors, and the major.

Judith turned from Lee to Trevors but managed to keep half an eye on
Mrs. Langworthy.

"You see, it's pay-day with us, Mr. Trevors," she said quietly. "And
when pay-day comes we pay our men at six o'clock in spite of hell and
high water!"

Bud Lee, leading his horse away, turned for a word. "A man killed a
horse for me to-day," he said very gently, and his eyes rested steadily
upon Trevors. "If I ever get him, or the man who put him up to it, I'm
going to get him right."

IX

THE OLD TRAIL

On the Blue Lake Ranch there was more than one man ready to scoff at
the idea of a robbery like this one, frank enough to voice the
suspicion: "It's just a stall for time!" So much had last week's rumor
done for them, preparing them to expect something that would set aside
the customary monthly pay-day. But when they had seen Charlie Miller's
bruised head and heard his story; when they had sat on their horses and
looked down at the animal which had been shot under Bud Lee, they were
silent. And, besides, when long after dark they came in behind Carson
from a fruitless quest, their pay was ready for them as formerly, in
gold and silver.

Major Langworthy imbibed an unusually large number of cocktails and
long before noon of the following day had suggested that the ranch be
put immediately under military law, hinting that a military-mustached
gentleman be appointed commanding general of the Blue Lake forces, and
forming within his own mind the picture of himself in the office,
revolver on table, cocktail at elbow, directing the manoeuvres from
this point of vantage, not to say safety. Mrs. Langworthy ruffled her
feathers and sniffed when Judith's name was mentioned. It was
perfectly clear to her that all the ruffians of the West would be quick
to take the advantage arising from the ridiculous condition of a rowdy
girl assuming men's pantaloons.

"I am rather inclined to think, mama," said Marcia, "that you don't do
Judith justice."

Trevors, with little to say to any one, took his departure in the
forenoon, extracting from Hampton the promise to ride over and see t