o," she said out loud for the benefit of Meldrum.

Dingwell cut the ropes that bound his leg. "I'm liable to be Dan's
guest quite awhile yet. Rutherford and I don't quite agree on the
terms," he drawled aloud.

Beulah tossed him her revolver. "I'll call Dan, but you're not to hurt
him," she whispered.

When Meldrum came in answer to her summons, he met the shock of his
life. In Dingwell's competent hand was a revolver aimed at his heart.

The man turned savagely to Beulah. "So I'm the goat," he said with a
curse. "Rutherford is going to frame me, is he? I'm to go to the pen
in place of the whole bunch. Is that it?"

"No, you've guessed wrong. Yore hide is safe this time, Meldrum," the
cattleman explained. "Reach for the roof. No, don't do that. . . .
Now, turn yore face to the wall."

Dave stepped forward and gathered in the forty-four of the enemy. He
also relieved him of his "skinning" knife. With the deft hands of an
old roper he tied the man up and flung him on the bed.

This done, Dingwell made straight for the larder. Though he was
ravenous, the cattleman ate with discretion. Into his pockets he
packed all the sandwiches they would hold.

"Is it true that you--that they didn't give you anything to eat?" asked
Beulah.

He looked at her--and lied cheerfully.

"Sho, I got cranky and wouldn't eat. Yore folks treated me fine. I
got my neck bowed. Can't blame them for that, can I?"

"We must be going," she told him. "If you don't get over the pass
before morning, Tighe might catch you."

He nodded agreement. "You're right, but I've got to look out for young
Beaudry. Do you know where he is?"

"He is waiting outside," the girl said stiffly. "Take him away with
you. I'll not be responsible for him if he comes back. We don't like
spies here."

They found Roy lying against the wall of the hut, his white face
shining in the moonlight.

"What's the matter with you?" demanded Miss Rutherford sharply.

"I'm all right." Roy managed to rise and lean against the _jacal_. "I
see you made it. Mr. Dingwell, my name is Beaudry."

"Glad to know you." The cattleman's strong hand gripped his limp one.
"Yore father was the gamest man I ever knew and one of my best friends."

The keen eyes of Beulah had been fastened on Roy. She recalled what
she had heard the man say in the orchard. In her direct fashion she
flung a question at the young man.

"Are you wounded? Did that man hit you wh