and caught his horse, or maybe those are
your own tracks----"

The man made a swift gesture of dissent: "Well, then," uttered the girl
in a tone of conviction, "that horrible Purdy has been along here----"

"Purdy!" The word exploded from the Texan's lips like the report of a
gun. He took a step toward her and she saw that his eyes stared wide
with horror.

"Yes," she answered, with a shudder, "I loathe him. He was at the ranch
this morning before you came--wanted to see father----"

A low groan from the lips of the Texan interrupted her. With a hand
pressed tightly to his brow, he was staggering toward his horse.

CHAPTER XII

IN TIMBER CITY

On the porch of the Cameron cottage, Endicott and Colston, absorbed in
business, talked until the ends of their cigars made glowing red spots
in the darkness. The deal by which Endicott became sole proprietor of
the Y Bar outfit was consummated, and Colston's promise to have the
papers drawn up in the morning was interrupted by a furious volley of
shots from the direction of the Red Front. Colston smiled: "NL rodeo
probably camped near here an' the boys run in to wake up the town!"

Endicott glanced swiftly about him: "But, my wife!" he exclaimed, "Where
is she? She promised to return before dark, and--why, it must have been
dark for an hour!"

Colston noting the look of genuine alarm on the man's face, sought to
reassure him: "Oh, well, she probably got interested in the scenery and
rode a little farther than she intended. She'll be along directly----"

"Something may have happened--an accident----"

"Not much chance of that. Powder Face is woman broke, an' gentle as any
cayuse can get. About that lower range I was tellin' you--where the
Wilson sheep are creepin' in--" With merely the barest pretence of
listening, Endicott rose, opened the screen door, tossed his cigar into
the yard, and began pacing up and down the porch. At each turn he paused
and peered out into the darkness.

The older man got up and stood beside him: "There's nothin' to worry
about, my boy. An' that's one of the first things you'll learn--not to
worry. A dozen things can happen to delay anyone, an' they're hardly
ever serious. If it'll ease your mind any, we'll ride down town, maybe
she stopped to take in the excitement, an' if she ain't there we'll ride
out on the trail a piece."

The scattering shots that followed the volley had ceased and as the two
proceeded down the sandy street