rt, that's what made ye do it. Yer jealous; that's what's wrong.
An' as fer justice, you'll git plenty of it soon, an' more'n ye'll care
fer. An' you talk about a man murderin' his pardner, an' givin' him
justice! Who murdered Bill Ducett, at Black Ravine, tell me that?"

Curly's eyes, which were big with fear, now fairly burst from their
sockets as the old prospector laid this startling charge. His knees
trembled, and it seemed as if he must fall to the ground, so great was
his terror.

"H-how d'ye know about Bill?" he gasped.

"Never mind how I know," Samson replied. Then he turned toward Glen.
"Excuse me, Miss," and he lifted his old weather-beaten hat, "I'm real
sorry that you have to witness sich a scene as this. But it can't be
helped, fer thar stands the worst criminal that ever came into this
region. An' to think of him talkin' about murder an' justice, when he
himself murdered his own pardner!"

"It's a lie!" Curly denied with an oath. "What d'ye mean by making
such a charge?"

"It's no lie, Curly," and the prospector looked sternly into the cur's
bloodshot eyes. "I've got all the proof that's necessary to stretch
yer neck. But it'll keep until the right ones git hold of ye. In the
meantime, we might as well go down to Shorty's an' git something to
eat. I'm as hungry as a two-year-old bear. We'll take these fellers
along," and he motioned to the miners. "Jist let yer Injuns look after
'em, Miss. An' ye'd better see that Curly is tied tight so's he can't
git away. We don't want to run any risk with him."

It took but a few minutes to carry out this latter suggestion, and then
all headed for the mining creek. The miners were marshalled by the
Indians, with Samson walking watchfully by Curly's side, while Reynolds
kept close to Glen. No one spoke, and it was a strange procession
which wound its way down the creek, and at length halted in front of
the roadhouse.

CHAPTER XXIX

THE OLD TRUE STORY

There was great indignation at Shorty's when the miners heard of the
villainous attempt upon Reynolds' life. At first they would hardly
believe it, but as they listened to Frontier Samson, whose words were
confirmed by Glen, and Reynolds, they knew that it must be true. Then
when they learned that Curly was guilty of the murder of his partner,
Bill Ducett, they became thoroughly aroused.

These miners were the finest men at Big Draw. They worked hard and
minded their own business. T