ight, Mary!" Then in a stronger
voice: "All right, Mary, I'll stay."

The film passed from before his sight.

"By hickory, Tressa, I thought I was dead--and Mary was taking me in
hand. She can get along without me, she says, but you can't. But you
needn't tell Adrian. Where's my pipe?"

Murphy was capering about the room, whooping and rubbing his eyes. The
injured man fixed him with stern gaze.

"Murphy, what are you doing here, making a fool of yourself at this
hour? Don't you know you're due at the gravel pit in less than two
hours? That fill-in commences to-day--no matter what's happened."

But Murphy was already far up the grade, brandishing his shillalah and
shouting at the top of his voice:

"'Uggins! 'Uggins! I'm coming."

CHAPTER XXXI

BLUE PETE RETURNS

Inspector Barker drummed on his desk.

"Bert, of the 3-bar-Y, has turned up, Priest tells me."

Sergeant Mahon managed to stifle outward evidence of the thrill that
sent his blood tingling. He did not reply. "Don't mangle your brains
over it, Boy. You've been in the Police long enough to add two and
two."

Still no reply.

"While you're digesting it, bite on this: Most of the horses Dutch
Henry and Bilsy stole last fall are back in their owners' hands."

Mahon began to laugh happily. "I'll stake my life that every one Blue
Pete stole--every one that's alive, anyway--is among them."

"You're coming along, Boy . . . but just a bit too fast. Try and take
this standing: Blue Pete never stole a horse after he left the Police!"

Mahon's brows met in surprise.

"No, I'm not crazy," grinned the Inspector. "I'm not even trying to
delude myself. . . . And he never was such a friend of mine as you
thought he was of yours."

Mahon controlled himself to formality. "I'll go out and find him, sir,
if you say so, and let him tell his own story."

"You'll find him when it pleases him to be found."

"If you don't mind, sir, I'd like to get back to the Lodge right away.
I feel as if I need ranchers and cowboys to remove the taste of that
north country from my mouth."

A slow smile crept into the Inspector's face.

"I imagine it'll please him to be found--and by you," he said.

As the door was closing behind the Sergeant, the grey-haired man threw
a parting word: "Take my advice, Boy, and don't do any adding till Blue
Pete gives you the figures. If the addition's unpleasant then . . .
wait till I add for you."

Mahon covered