s."

Mr. Teeters looked pained at the suggestion.

"I don't talk about religion much," he replied earnestly, "but there's
somethin' come up the last few days that set me thinkin' pretty
serious."

Mrs. Taylor looked her curiosity.

"It's a turrible thing," Teeters wagged his head solemnly, "to see a
feller layin' on his death-bed denyin' they's a Hereafter."

"Why, how dreadful! Who is it?"

"A sheepherder. He says they ain't no hell--nor nothin'."

"The po-oo-or soul! Is there any way I could talk to him?"

"I was hopin' you'd say that, but I didn't like to ask you, seein' as
he's a sheepherder."

"They're human beings, Clarence," reproved Mrs. Taylor.

"I've heerd that questioned," declared Teeters, "but anyhow, a person
with a heart in him no bigger than a bullet would have to be sorry to
see this feller goin' to his everlasting punishment without repentin'.
He's done murder."

"Murder!"

"I'll tell you about it to-morrow on the way over."

"Where is he?"

"At Kate Prentice's--at headquarters."

Mrs. Taylor stiffened.

"I shouldn't care to go there, Clarence." Seeing that his face clouded,
she added: "Of course, if your heart is set upon it--the woman wouldn't
construe it as a 'call' and return it, would she?"

"I hardly think so," replied Teeters dryly.

* * * * *

As a result of this conversation, the following morning Kate saw Teeters
driving up Bitter Creek with a second person on the seat beside him. She
had just come down from Burnt Basin and was not in too good a humor.
Bowers, who was staying with Mullendore, came out of the wagon when he
heard her and asked:

"How was it lookin'?"

"The spring was trampled to a bog," she said in an exasperated voice,
"and the range is covered with bare spots where that dry-farmer has
salted his cattle. I'll throw two bands of sheep in there, and when I
take 'em off there won't be roots enough left to grow grass for five
years. If it's fight he wants, I'll give him all he's looking for." Her
brow cleared as she added:

"Teeters is coming up the road and bringing some one with him." She
nodded towards the wagon, "How is he?"

"I doubt if he lasts the day out."

Kate frowned when she recognized Mrs. Taylor. They passed occasionally
on the road to Prouty, but always without speaking. Kate never had
forgiven the affront at the Prouty House, while Mrs. Taylor preserved
her uncompromising attitude towards "ro