hey were open and
aboveboard, anyhow, in all their diviltry," contributed Ryan to the
pact of peace.

Nobody looked at Roy, but he felt the weight of their thoughts. All
four of them bore in mind the death of John Beaudry. His son spoke
quietly.

"Mr. Rutherford, I've been thinking of my father a good deal these last
few days. I want to do as he would have me do about this thing. I'm
not going to chop my words. He gave his life to bring law and order
into this country, The men who killed him were guilty of murder.
That's an ugly word, but it's the true one."

The grim face of the big hillman did not twitch. "I'll take the word
from you. Go on."

"But I've been thinking more and more that he would want me to forget
that. Tighe and Meldrum are gone. Sheriff Beaudry worked for the good
of the community. That is all he asked. It is for the best interest
of Washington County that we bury the past. If you say so, I'll shake
hands on that and we'll all face to the future. Just as you say."

Dingwell grinned. "Hooray! Big Chief Dave will now make oration.
You've got the right idea, son. I knew Jack Beaudry. There wasn't an
atom of revenge in his game body. His advice would have been to shake
hands. That's mine, too."

The hillman and Roy followed it.

Upon the porch a young woman appeared.

"I've written those letters for you, dad," she called.

Roy deserted the peace conference at once and joined her.

"Oh! I didn't know it was you," she cried. "I'm so glad you came this
way. Was it . . . all right?"

"Right as the wheat. Why did you send Pat up Del Oro?"

She looked at him with eyes incredibly kind and shy. "Because I . . .
didn't want to run any chance of losing my new beau."

"Are you sure that was your only reason?"

"Certain sure. I didn't trust Meldrum, and . . . I thought you had
taken chances enough with him. So I gave Mr. Ryan an opportunity."

"He took it," her lover answered gravely.

She glanced at him quickly. "You mean--?"

"Never mind what I mean now. We've more important things to talk
about. I haven't seen you for eight hours, and thirty-three minutes."

Rutherford turned his guests over to Ned, who led the way to the
stable. The ranchman joined the lovers. He put an arm around Beulah.

"Boots has done told me about you two, Mr. Beaudry. I'm eternally
grateful to you for bringing back my little girl to me, and if you all
feel right sure you care for each