Jean of the Lazy A

would be believed under oath, even if his whole future did depend upon it. You would think that Aleck Dougl

ent, one might say. Therefore, I am going to be brief as I can and still give you a clear idea of th

ve him any clue whatever. So the footprints seemed likely to remain the mystery they had seemed on the morning when he discovered them. He laid traps, pretending to ride away from the ranch to town before dark, and returning cautiously by way of the trail down the blu

e prevailed upon Rossman, who was Montana's best-known lawyer, to defend the case, for one thing. He seemed to pin his faith almost wholly upon Rossman, and declared to every one that Aleck would never be

d Aleck's splendid reputation, and the meager evidence against him, he was foun

e grip of a sudden, overwhelming rage against Croft. By Aleck's own statement he had been at the ranch some time before he had started for town to report the murder. By the word of several witnesses, it had been proven that Croft had left town meaning to collect wages which he claimed were due him or else he would "get even." His last words to

blunder at the trial. When the district attorney reminded Lite of the statement he had made, Lite had calmly explained that he had made a mistak

d, the judge more than hinted, the sentence would have been made as light as the law would permit. It was the stubborn denial of the deed in the face of al

rdinary in the case; we read of such things in the paper, and a paragraph

an, dazed by the magnitude of the catastrophe that had overtaken them all; clinging to Lite as to the only part of her home that was left to her, steadfastly refusing to believe that they would actually take her dad

and I'm going to start right in using my authority. I've got Pard here in the stable. You go climb into your riding-clothes, a

nst the thought of taking up life again without her dad. "Thi

d her across the street and down the high sidewalk that b

s been signed over to Carl, somehow; I didn't go into that with your dad; we didn't have much time. Seems Carl put up the money to pay Rossman,-and other things,-and took over the ranch to square it. Anyway, I haven't got anything to say about the business end of the deal. I've got permission to boss you, thoug

e about? The world has stopped." Her v

sympathetic; nice folks, and they mean well,-but you don't want a bunch like that slopping around, crying all over you and keeping you in mind of things. I'm going to w

st an extra rope to bring you along peaceable. You're going to stay at the Bar Nothing. And I'm going to make a top hand outa you, J

an air of sullen apathy.

that's all. Now, I know you're dead game, Jean; at least I know you used to be, and I'm gambling on school not taking that outa you. You're maybe thinking about going away off somewhere among strangers; but that wouldn't do at all. Your dad always counted on keeping you away from town

er lips, at that, and was

ull?" she asked him with a certain drawl that Jean had pos

ouble. But she's going to be done according to contract

red out suddenly, "is the sickening injustice of it. Dad never did that; you know he never did i

bright, sensible question, I must say! I reckon you ought to be stood in the corner fo

doubt God Himself, right now,"

op here at the stable and get the horses. You can ride sideways as far as the Allens', and get your riding-ski

t long, lank cowpuncher whose shyness was so ingrained that it had every outward appearance of being a phlegmatic coldness, assuming the duties o

openly, he got her started toward the Bar Nothing and away from the friends whose enervating pity was at that time the worst influence possible. He set the pace, and he set it for spee

ce inquiringly. The droop of her lips was no longer the droop of a weak yielding to sorrow, but r

shooting science I taught you before you went off to school? You're going to start right in where y

expectedly. Lite drew a