Square Deal Sanderson

nce in the isolation of the parlor, with the shades dr

s Vegas to look up the title to the property. She thought

merely been glad to see him, as any sister would be glad to see a brother whom she had not seen for many years; a

ss over, and therefore she could not tell just how deeply she should be expected to love th

Big, handsome, vigorous, with a way about him that any woman must

right that she should thrill so delightfully whenever he came near her? And was it ent

ere some truth in Dale's assertion that she was merely an adopted daughter, and her love for

he had; for she had told him about Dale's asser

g advantage of the situation, and she believed she loved him more than ever because of his attitude. But she felt that s

Mary rode over to the Nyland ranch and had a long talk

was concerned the incident with Dale was closed. But, Peggy told Mary, Ben was bitte

yland cabin, listening to Peggy, but making no replies. And it was not until she was ready to go that Ma

er if you feel about Ben as I feel about my brother-t

hat way, of course. For your bro

iss Ben often

t he gets sulky and balky when I want to kiss him. So I don't try very often. Your brother is a fine, big fello

she said. "But, Peggy," she added seriously, "I love him so much th

son's absence she succeeded in convincing herself that Sanderson's attitude toward her was t

day Sanderson a

or and waved a hand to them. Owen flourishe

she wanted to when he seized her hand and squeezed it warml

d tell her of the nature of the trouble, but

sked him what he had discovered at

ecord of your

grounds for his suspicion,

," he said. "I'll tell you this," he added gruffly: "as a sister you su

ieve as Dale believed, and in an excess of joy over the discovery that he did believe in her sh

I don't care whether you like it

," he said

hen leaned back, look

ss I have given you!" she

time the warmth of his response m

nd walked to a corner of the pasture fence where he stood

bequeathing the ranch to his son. The document had been recorded only a fe

ve, and while in Las Vegas he had applied to the court for permission to have the title transferred. And t

g the younger Bransford's signature. The letter was still in the dresser drawer in his room, and he would have to have it beside him while he signed

ary permission, Sanderson caught Owen looking a

in' you?" h

Don't tell me you're too bashf

when the little man spoke, and

on talk than I like any of

assing promiscuous,"

sign the affidavit and return it to the court. He must imitate Will Bransford's signature to prevent Mary Bransfo

d's signature until he could imitate it

returned to the ranchhouse, slipped into his room and locked

humbed the letters in the packages over before he would a

self. It was his own fault if the whole structure of deception tumbled about

her letters, he supposed, she cared less

had an impulse to ride away and leave Mary Bransford to fight t

e center of the room, grinning saturninely, fully resolved that if it must be he would make a comple

ted some pretext. But he would not; he would not have her think he had been examining her

remarked casu

enough of my letters put

d's?" she returned, look

" he g

before, I had the Sanderson letter somewhere. I have

hat she would say if she knew what care

was among a lot of others in the drawer of the dresser in your r

to keep the eagerness out

ot it

e said seriously. "I took it from there to keep it safe, a

n was certain of that. And he hoped the

ous," he said. "Don't

fence. He felt more secure and capable. Beginning with the following day,

had no doubt that since Bransford's death the men had taken advantage of the absence of author

d looking over his shoulder he

as he climbed the fence at a point near by a

ted it. He was little, and manly despite his bodily defects. But there was a suggestion of ef

er of the ranch would have been to discharge such a man instantly. But in Sanderson's heart had come a sp

d, trying bravely to imitate h

he queried, lookin

n' what

r one thing, I suppose you are trying to decide

now, and the little man's impertinences did not bother him so much

hy you didn't sign Will Brans

did not waver a

," he sa

t Will Bransford,"

ion whatever. For now that he had determined to stay at the Double A no matter what happened, discovery did not alar

. "Well, spring it. I'm anxious

n't sor

, no

because I know Bransford intimately. I was his chum for several years. He could drink as much as I. He was lazy and shiftless, but I liked him.

me w

amed Square Deal Sanderson. I saw you one day in Tombstone; you were pointed out to me

d. "Why didn't

game. You saved Nyland-an innocent man. Knowing your reputation for f

din' to what you've been tellin' me, but Mary Bransford. She

ked the l

" he said. His lips straightened and his eyes bored into the little man's. There was a lig

. "But if you ever open your yap far enough to whisper a wo

e elder Bransford, how he had killed the two men who had murdered Will Bransf

now?" questioned the little

I ain't never been no hand at deceivin' no one-I ain't foxy enough. There's been times since I've been here when I've been scared to open my mouth for fe

narrowed his ey

in love with

old. "Up till now you've minded your own business,

it. Why should you? Don't you see that if you told her that her brother had been murdered she'd never get over it?

ooting. I know his plan. I overheard him and a man named Dave Silverthorn talking it over one night when I

ablished he would sell out to them. They have forged papers showing that Mary is an adopted daughter-though not le

r into it all the time-in love an' in trouble. An' when sh

n. "She'd feel badly about her brother, maybe, but she'd

wn from the fence and moved close to him, talking e

'll stay. I reckon I was fi