d never get over it? She's that kind. And you know what Dale's
scheme was, don't you? Has she told you?" At Sanderson's nod, Owen
went on:

"If you were to let it be known that you are not Will Bransford, Dale
would get the property as sure as shooting. I know his plan. I
overheard him and a man named Dave Silverthorn talking it over one
night when I was prowling around Dale's house. The window of Dale's
office was wide open, and I was crouching outside.

"They've got a man ready to come on here to impersonate Bransford.
They would prove his claim and after he was established he would sell
out to them. They have forged papers showing that Mary is an adopted
daughter--though not legally. Don't you see that if you don't go on
letting everybody think you are Bransford, Mary will lose the ranch?"

Sanderson shook his head. "I'd be gettin' deeper an' deeper into it
all the time--in love an' in trouble. An' when she'd find out how I'd
fooled her all the time she'd hate me."

"Not if you save the ranch for her," argued the little man. "She'd
feel badly about her brother, maybe, but she'd forgive you if you
stayed and beat Dale at his own game."

Sanderson did not answer. The little man climbed down from the fence
and moved close to him, talking earnestly, and at last Sanderson
grinned down at him.

"I'm doing it," he said. "I'll stay. I reckon I was figurin' on it
all the time."

CHAPTER X

PLAIN TALK

Barney Owen had told Sanderson of his hatred for Alva Dale, but he had
not told Sanderson many other things. He had not told the true story
of how he came to be employed at the Double A--how Mary had come upon
him one day at a shallow crossing of the river, far down in the basin.

Owen was flat on his stomach at the edge of the water, scooping it up
with eager handfuls to quench a thirst that had endured for days. He
had been so weak that he could not stand when she found him, and in
some way she got him on his horse and brought him to the ranchhouse,
there to nurse him until he recovered his strength.

It had been while she was caring for him that she had told him about
her fear of Dale, and thereafter--as soon as he was able to ride
again--Owen took it upon himself to watch Dale.

In spite of his exceeding slenderness, Owen seemed to possess the
endurance and stamina of a larger and more physically perfect man. For
though he was always seen about the ranchhouse during the day--helping
at