e was showed to take and met Lady Jess in the canyon. Says his own
horse is up to Pedro's sheep pasture. Says----"

"_And you let him?_ Had him right there in your power and didn't knock
his old teeth down his lying throat?"

As John's wrath increased his mother's ebbed. She had passed her
indignation on to another, as it were, and felt the relief of this
confidence.

"No, I didn't. I left that for you to do. They was false ones any way
and wouldn't have hurt none. Hold on! Where you going, son?"

For the carpenter had started forward, as if intent upon instant and
terrible vengeance. Neither of them noticed that Jessica had followed
Aunt Sally hither till a girl's voice implored:

"Don't! That would let my mother know and it would kill her!"

"Captain! You here? You understand?"

"Yes--yes. They waked me, talking, and I crept to the upper hall to
stop them, so they should not disturb my poor, tired dear. Oh! I heard!
I heard--every--single--dreadful word!"

"Well, I'm going to fix him for it."

"John, wait--wait. I must think. My precious mother----"

Jessica rarely wept. Now she flung herself into Aunt Sally's arms and
sobbed in a way that set the carpenter raging afresh. One after another
the "boys" came out from the closed or open doors along the row. Some
because it was their usual hour for rising, others to learn the cause
of these early voices. But one glimpse of Lady Jess in trouble grouped
every ranchman about her and set each to hurling a torrent of questions
upon that good woman, who held her, without pause for any answer.

But John held up his hand and told the story. It belonged to them all, as
Jessica did, and the honor of Sobrante.

They heard it with little comment, save groans and occasional
mutterings, punctuated by fresh inquiries of Mrs. Benton. Considerable
mystery had been thrown about her cross-examination of her temporary
patient, and after all it had proved the simplest matter in the
world. Concerning his own personal affairs he was provokingly silent,
but he was as ready to talk about his business in that region as she
was to have him when, after a roundabout preparation, she brought
him to it.

"I am in honor pledged to do my best for my employers in the East, and
unwilling to remain here under false colors, so to speak, any longer. Who
is the most responsible person here, excepting Mrs. Trent?" had been
his words.

"I am," promptly replied Aunt Sally.

"Then you shall hear