d so of course he surmised that she
had come in from her ride. For a moment she lost sight of him behind some
buildings, and then he opened the door of the office and entered.

He stopped on the threshold for an instant and looked at her, evidently
expecting her to offer her usual greeting. He frowned slightly when it did
not come, and then smiled.

"Hello!" he said cordially. "You are back, I see. And tired," he added,
noting her position. He walked over and laid a hand on her forehead and
she involuntarily shrank from his touch, shuddering, for the hand which he
had placed on her forehead was the right one--the hand with which he had
signed the agreement with Dakota--Doubler's death warrant.

"Don't, please," she said.

"Cross, too?" he said jocularly.

"Just tired," she lied listlessly, and with an air of great indifference.

He looked critically at her for an instant, then smiled again and dragged
a chair over near a window and looked out, apparently little concerned
over her manner. But she noted that he glanced furtively at her several
times, and that he seemed greatly satisfied over something. She wondered
if he had seen Dakota; if he knew that the latter had already attempted to
carry out the agreement to "Persuade Doubler to leave the county."

"Ride far?" he questioned, turning and facing her, his voice casual.

"Not very far."

"The river trail?"

Sheila nodded, and saw a sudden interest flash into his eyes.

"Which way?" he asked quickly.

"Down," she returned. She had not lied, for she _had_ ridden "down," and
though she had also ridden up the river she preferred to let him guess a
little, for she resented the curiosity in his voice and was determined to
broach the subject which she had in mind in her own time and after the
manner that suited her best.

He had not been interested in her for a long time, had not appeared to
care where she spent her time. Why should he betray interest now? She saw
a mysterious smile on his face and knew before he spoke that his apparent
interest in her was not genuine--that he was merely curious.

"Then you haven't heard the news?" he said softly. He was looking out of
the window now, and she could not see his face.

She took up the magazine and turned several pages, pretending to read, but
in reality waiting for him to continue. When he made no effort to do so
her own curiosity got the better of her.

"What news?" she questioned, without looking at him.