"Tom," he said with a curious quietness, "there was a
message you did not give me, you drunken hog."

The man shook his grasp off, glanced at him bewilderedly, and then
while the bronze grew a little darker in his face doubled a great fist.

"If I take a little more than is good for me now and then, that's my
lookout," he said. "Now I don't want any trouble with you, Harry, but
I'll not take that talk from any man."

Alton's face was almost grey and his eyes partly closed, but there was
a steely glint in them as he said, "Did you bring me the message Miss
Townshead gave you?"

"I did the next thing," said the man. "When I couldn't find you I gave
it to the lady. She promised to tell you."

"Tom," said Alton slowly, "you are worse than a drunken hog, you
are----"

A man stepped in front of him before the word was spoken, while another
pinioned the culprit's arm.

"We've no use for that kind of talk and the fuss that follows it," said
the first one. "Anyway, if Tom mixed things up it was my fault and
Dobey's for giving him the whisky. We'd sold some stock well and we
rushed him in. Well, now, if you still feel you must work it off on
somebody you've got to tackle Dobey and me!"

Alton let his hands drop. "Do you know what you have done?" said he.

"It wasn't very much, anyway," said the other man. "Tom didn't want to
come in; told us he'd a message for you. But we made him, and were
sorry after, because when he got started he left us very little whisky."

Alton glanced at him a moment, and the man grew embarrassed under his
gaze. Then he smiled wryly. "And this is what you have brought
Townshead and his daughter to, and there is more behind. What you have
made of me counts for little after that," he said.

Some time had passed when he walked quietly into the house. Nellie
Townshead rose as he entered and stood looking at him very white in
face.

"I wonder if you will believe what I have to tell you, Miss Townshead,"
he commenced, and stopped when the rancher turned towards him,

"My daughter has, I think, been taught that it is unwise to place much
confidence in any one," he said.

Alton glanced at the girl, and stood silent a moment when she made a
little gesture of agreement. "I am afraid appearances are against me,"
he said.

"Yes," said the girl. "So are the facts."

"Well," said Alton grimly, "the latter are of the most importance, but
I think you should hear me."

"There is," s