dy, Mr. Hampton, sir; and she
knew that in the best families one was not supposed to eavesdrop. But
at a time like this. . . . Well, she _had_ crept up behind the
lilac-bushes and they _were_ speaking guardedly about the hold-up!
Almost in whispers, with every sign of guilt----

"Hurried lunch?" said Hampton. "Took her rifle, did she?"

His eyes had grown very serious as he stared down into Mrs. Simpson's
concerned face.

"Send Jose to me," was what he said next.

"Aren't you afraid, Mr. Hampton?" she exclaimed, picturing to herself
this pleasant young gentleman at death-grips with the sombre Jose.
However, she obeyed and called Jose whom Hampton merely sent to the
men's quarters with word for Carson and Lee to come to the house. Mrs.
Simpson, witnessing the bloodless meeting from the hallway, was a
little relieved and very much disappointed.

Hampton strode up and down the office, the frown gathering upon his
usually smooth brows. Plainly if something had happened to Judith the
present responsibility lay upon his shoulders as next in authority.

"Here I am," announced Carson briefly. "What is it?"

"I am a little worried, Carson," said Hampton, "about Miss Sanford."

"Huh?" grunted the old cattleman.

"Judith hasn't put in an appearance and it's growing late," continued
Hampton hastily "I'm afraid----"

"Afraid? Afraid of what? You don't think she eloped with your Jap or
stole the spoons, do you?" snapped Carson. He had been interrupted at
the crucial point in a game of cribbage with Poker Face and the
cattleman's weak spot was cribbage. He glared at Hampton belligerently.

"Where is Lee?" questioned Hampton sharply. "I told Jose I wanted the
two of you. Why didn't he come?"

"Dunno," answered Carson, still without interest. "I ain't seen him.
Wasn't in for supper----"

"I tell you," cried Hampton, angry at Carson's quiet acceptance of
facts which to him were darkly significant, "he, too, was out with his
rifle to-day; I saw him myself. Now _he_ fails to show up! Don't you
see what all this points to?"

Carson, who seldom lost his poise with one-half of his brain still
given over to the hand he meant to play with Poker Face, merely sighed
and shook his head.

"I'm real busy down at the bunk-house, Mr. Hampton," at last came his
quiet answer, "where me an' Poker Face is figuring out something
important. As for worrying about a man like Bud Lee or a girl like
Judy, why, I just ain't goi