o." Ned looked at his friend with smiling drollery. "I thought
y'u smoked your troubles away, Jim. This one seems to worry y'u."

McWilliams grinned sheepishly. "There's one trouble won't be smoked
away. It kinder dwells." Then, apparently apropos of nothing, he added,
irrelevantly: "Wonder what Denver's doing right now?"

"Probably keeping that appointment y'u ran away from," bantered his
friend.

"I'll bet he is. Funny how some men have all the luck," murmured the
despondent foreman.

CHAPTER 16. HUNTING BIG GAME

In point of fact, Denver's occupation at that moment was precisely what
they had guessed it to be. He was sitting beside Nora Darling in the
grand stand, explaining to her the fine points of "roping." Mr. Bob
Austin, commonly known as "Texas," was meanwhile trying to make himself
agreeable to Helen Messiter. Truth to tell, both young women listened
with divided interest to their admirers. Both of them had heard the
story of the night, and each of them had tucked away in her corsage a
scribbled note she wanted to get back to her room and read again. That
the pursuit was still on everybody knew, and those on the inside were
aware that the "King," masquerading under the name of Jack Holloway, was
the active power behind the sheriff stimulating the chase.

It was after the roping had begun, and Austin had been called away to
take his turn, that the outlaw chief sauntered along the aisle of the
grand stand to the box in which was seated the mistress of the Lazy D.

"Beautiful mo'ning, isn't it? Delightfully crisp and clear," he said by
way of introduction, stopping at her box.

She understood the subtle jeer in his manner, and her fine courage rose
to meet it. There was a daring light in her eye, a buoyant challenge in
her voice as she answered:

"It is a splendid morning. I'm not surprised you are enjoying it."

"Did I say I was enjoying it?" He laughed as he lifted the bar, came
into her box and took a seat.

"Of course not. How careless of me! I had forgotten you were in mourning
for a deceased friend."

His dark eyes flashed. "I'll not mourn for him long. He was a mighty
trifling fellow, anyhow. Soon as I catch and hang his murderers I'll
quit wearing black."

"You may wear out several suits before then," she hit back.

"Don't y'u believe it; when I want a thing I don't quit till it's done."

She met his gaze, and the impact of eyes seemed to shock her physically.
The wickedness in him t