age murder
in them rocks. We figured it out together that the first crack of
thunder had sounded like shooting, and that's what started her off.
She hadn't ever been in a real thunderstorm before, and she's scared of
them. I know that one we had the other day like to of scared her into
hysterics. I laughed at her and joshed her out of it."

"Didn't she ever say anything about Fred Thurman, then?" Warfield
persisted.

"Not to me, she didn't. Fred was dragged that night, and if she heard
about a man being killed during that same storm, she might have said
something about it. She might have wondered if that was what she saw.
I don't know. She's pretty sensible--when she ain't crazy."

Warfield turned his horse, as if by accident, so that he was brought
face to face with Lone. His eyes searched Lone's face pitilessly.

"Lone, you know how ugly a story can grow if it's left alone. Do _you_
believe that girl actually saw a man shot? Or do you think she was
crazy?"

Lone met Warfield's eyes fairly. "I think she was plumb out of her
head," he answered. And he added with just the right degree of
hesitation: "I don't think she's what you'd call right crazy, Mr
Warfield. Lots of folks go outa their heads and talk crazy when they
get a touch of fever, and they get over it again."

"Let's have a fair understanding," Warfield insisted. "Do you think I
am justified in the course I am taking, or don't you?"

"Hunting her up? Sure, I do! If you and Hawkins rode on home, I'd
keep on hunting till I located her. If she's been raving around like
you say, she's in no shape to be riding these hills alone. She's got
to be taken care of."

Warfield gave him another sharp scrutiny and rode on. "I always prefer
to deal in the open with everyone," he averred. "It may not be my
affair, strictly speaking. The Quirt and the Sawtooth aren't very
intimate. But the Quirt's having trouble enough to warrant any one in
lending a hand; and common humanity demands that I take charge of the
girl until she is herself again."

"I don't know as any one would question that," Lone assented and ground
his teeth afterwards because he must yield even the appearance of
approval. He knew that Warfield must feel himself in rather a
desperate position, else he would never trouble to make his motives so
clear to one of his men. Indeed, Warfield had protested his
unselfishness in the matter too much and too often to have deceived the
dull