Hidden Gold

Helen had seen him in such a temper. Like most men of action, he took pride in his self-control, whic

table in the corner. His friends respected his desire to be left alone, although several eyed him curiously and exchanged significant remarks at his appe

nder, and a bottle and glass were p

state more clearly than words could have expressed it. Searching in his pockets, he found tobacco and papers and rolled and lighted a cigarette. Nothing could be done for Santry until night, an

l though the Senator was, so far as he was concerned, Wade felt that his hands were tied on Helen's account. For her sake, he could not move against her father in a country where the average man thought

ly hoped that he might get his hands on Moran in the mix-up. He still looked upon his final visit to Rexhill as a weakness, but it had been undertaken solely on Santry's account. It had failed, and no one

hat the posse would probably still be there, for the report in town was

but it will be with his toes up. I'm done, Lem. By

a few hours ago. We grubbed them and loaned them all the guns we cou

ank

ng, but against Rexhill. If you like, we'll run him out of town while you're putting the fear of God into Mor

d the Senator, who was a big man at Washington, and might stir the authorities into action on his behalf if he could pro

nt all right. What we want to do is to get something 'on' the Sen

odded

an is mixed up in the killing, but I hardly believe Rexhill is. Anyhow, they've prob

l bring to light." Trowbridge lowered his voice. "Wh

rush the jail, but he won't expect me to come alone. Bat Lewis goes on duty as the relief, about nine o'clock. I mean to be

o men

Trowbridge slapped his friend on

bed?" Wade asked of the hotel

many as

d an extra horse to-night, and I don't want to be seen with him until I need hi

wly dropped an eyelid, for the sc

that happy faculty of the healthy man, of being able to sleep when his

ter another hearty meal he walked over to the Purnells' to p

ung man entered the cottage. "I want Dorothy to go with me to call on Miss Rexhill, and

e, which had so displeased Wade. To her mind the Rexhills were very great people, and great people were to be expected to bear themselves in lofty fashion. Dorothy had inherited her

say before Wade that she did not consider the Rexhills sufficiently good frie

nsible for what her father does in the way of business,

. Purnell exclai

urious to meet the other woman and gauge her pow

er heart had traveled farther along the Road to To-morrow than her daughter's fancy. She secretly hoped

porch of the little cottage. She was wearing a plain dress of green gingham, which, somehow, suggested to him the freshness of lettuce.

is still at the

morrow morning, or perhaps to-night. I've had enough of th

she admitted reluctantly. "

rfully, and told her that his chief purpose in coming to see h

y-"I've been thinking. It seems very strange to me that Senator Rexhill and Moran should be willing

but that must b

his. That's what I have been thinking about. You remember that when Moran f

o Sheridan. You were his stenographer for a while, I remember."

sounded strange and unnatural. "I know the old

ughtfully, for he was beginning to catch her meaning, "that

we can," Doro

d himself by their close proximity, he misinterpreted it. He slipped his hand over hers and once more the desire to kiss her seized

on

nd for a moment n

ination?" he fina

ll any one." Her lips wreathed into

l for me? It will be bad enough to do it myself; but necessity knows no law. Well, we'll l

n, and ignoring her last words in womanly

y. "Let it rest at that. We'll pro

he said seemed commonplace to her and nothing that she said seemed so to him. When it was fully dark he arose to go. Then she seemed a little sorry that she had not let him put his arm around her,

sire, ere

ith scorn sh

stantial log structure; within, it was divided into the Sheriff's office and sleeping room, the "bull pen," and a single narrow cell, in which Wade guessed that Santry would be locked. After examining his revolver,

mimicking Lewis' voice, in ans

ter. He had half feared that an attempt might be made to liberate Santry, but had never dreamed that any one would try the

heard the ranchman's stern warning to keep quiet or take the consequences. Sheriff Thomas had earned his right to his "st

the weapon against his victim's neck and marched him to the middle of

without visible emotion and in a low tone. "Yo

of the law and all that rot. I thought that all over before I came. Now that I've got you and dra

Santry might do when at liberty. When the cell door was unlocked, the old plainsman, in a towe

tool in this business, although he ought to know better. We'll t

f his master. "By the great horned toad, I knew it!" With his sinewy hands he tore the b

try, and if the ranch owner felt any compunction at the sight, he had only to think of

of it, Bill," was

gag so hid the officer's features that he could express himself only with his eyes, which he batted furiously. "Course," Santry went on, in mock solicitude, "if I'd thought

Bill!" Wad

eruff," Sant

re?nforcements from amongst Moran's following. Hurrying Santry ahead of him, Wade swung open the door and they looked o

ling Water behind them. "It sure feels good to be out of that there boardin

boys told me. They're waiting for us at the big pin

y six-shooter. More'n one good man has got hisself killed just because his gun wasn't where it oughter be when he needed it. Of course, we put up the best scrap we could, but we didn't have no

he ranch house on the previous nig

demanded. "How much longer a

s at the pine. We're going to run Moran and his gang off the ranch as soon

his hand down on Wade's back with a force which made the latter wince. "By the great horned toad, that's talkin! T

spurs into his horse's flanks and charged along the trail like an old-ti