nature of the invisible
protector.

"I started with a man for guide." She fixed a searching gaze on the boy.
"His name was Dick Wilbur."

She could not tell whether it was a tremble of the boy's hand or a short
motion to knock off the cigarette ash.

"Did you say 'was' Dick Wilbur?"

"Yes. Did you know him?"

"Heard of him, I think. Kind of a hard one, wasn't he?"

"No, no! A fine, brave, gentle fellow--poor Dick!"

She stopped, her eyes filling with tears at many a memory.

"H-m!" coughed the boy. "I thought he was one of old Boone's gang? If
he's dead, that made the last of 'em--except Red Pierre."

It was like the sound of a trumpet call at her ear. Mary sat up with a
start.

"What do you know of Red Pierre?"

The boy flushed a little, and could not quite meet her eye.

"Nothin'."

"At least you know that he's still alive?"

"Sure. Any one does. When he dies the whole range will know about
it--damn quick. I know _that_ much about Red Pierre; but who doesn't?"

"I, for one."

"You!"

Strangely enough, there was more of accusation than of surprise in the
word.

"Certainly," repeated Mary. "I've only been in this part of the country
for a short time. I really know almost nothing about the--the legends."

"Legends?" said the boy, and laughed with a voice of such rich, light
music that it took the breath from Mary. "Legend? Say, lady, if Red
Pierre is just a legend the Civil War ain't no more'n a fable. Legend?
You go anywhere on the range an' get 'em talking about that legend, and
they'll make you think it's an honest-to-goodness fact, and no mistake."

Mary queried earnestly: "Tell me about Red Pierre. It's almost as hard
to learn anything of him as it is to find out anything about McGurk."

"What you doing?" asked the boy, keen with suspicion. "Making a study of
them two for a book?"

He wiped a damp forehead.

"Take it from me, lady, it ain't healthy to join up them two even in
talk!"

"Is there any harm in words?"

The boy was so upset for some unknown reason that he rose and paced up
and down the room in a nervous tremor.

"Lots of harm in fool words."

He sat down again, and seemed a little anxious to explain his unusual
conduct.

"Ma'am, suppose you had a well plumb full of nitroglycerin in your back
yard; suppose there was a forest fire comin' your way from all sides;
would you like to have people talk about the nitroglycerin and that
forest fire meeting? E