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Harlan's interest centered heavily upon the ranchhouse, for it was there that Barbara Morgan had hidden herself, fearing him. She had entered a door that opened in the wall directly beneath the fortlike second story, and it was upon this door that Harlan's gaze was fixed.
And yet back of it all behind that which had been rendered visible by the actions of the man and by Harlan's own deductions was something else something stealthy and hidden; a secret threat of dire things to come a lingering promise of trickery. Standing at one of the gates of the corral upon the third morning following Linton's departure, Harlan considered this phase of the situation.
Could he, now, with "Drag" Harlan watching the three of them, could he draw with any hope of success, with the hope of beating the other's lightning hand on the downward flash to life or death? Deveny paled; he was afraid to take the chance. His eyes wavered from Harlan's; he cast a furtive glance at the sheriff.
Harlan," he went on slowly, "I'm goin' to tell you about some gold I've hid a hundred thousand dollars!" Keenly, suspicion lurking deep in his eyes, his mouth half open, seemingly ready to snap shut the instant he detected greed or cupidity in Harlan's eyes, he watched the latter.
Harlan's eyes narrowed, his lips wreathed into a feline smile. But he did not change his position. "Who's the witness against me?" "Laskar." "Has he testified?" "He's goin' to." Harlan backed away a little. His grin was tiger-like, a yellow flame seemed to leap in his eyes. Laskar, realizing at last that he could hope for no assistance from Gage or Deveny, grew rigid with desperation.
A tremor of malicious amusement, expressed visibly by a flicker of his eyelids, was Harlan's only emotion over the change that had come in the men of the group. He could now have selected those of the men who as Lane Morgan had said could not be trusted, and he could have pointed out those who had been loyal to Morgan, and who would be loyal to Barbara and himself.
"Harlan," she said weakly, as though upon him she had pinned her last hope; "Harlan has joined you after all he is against me too?" "Him and Haydon are after the Rancho Seco. Harlan's been playing with Haydon right along." Barbara said nothing more. She was incapable of coherent thought or of definite action or even of knowledge of her surroundings.
"Where they know things and teach things better than they do over in your Yankeeland of airs and frills. And now good-day to ye!" He climbed the porch steps, and relighted his pipe, gazing with much relish past the flame of the match, studying Harlan's dismay. The young man suddenly came to himself, struck his horse, and galloped wildly away.
But if you say you're runnin' things, that makes it a whole lot different. We ain't buckin' 'Drag' Harlan's game." "Thank you," grinned Harlan. "I saw you reportin' to Miss Morgan. You're straw-boss, I reckon." "You've hit it. I'm Stroud Lafe Stroud." "You'll keep on bein' straw-boss," said Harlan, shortly. "I'm appointin' a foreman." "Where's Lawson?" It was Stroud who spoke.
He stood there, his hand upraised, waiting again until the hush was upon them once more. They were ready for the usual speech of acceptance. But he said simply this: "I accept the trust!" He put his hand behind Harlan's guarding elbow and retired. "A carriage at once, Mr. Thornton," he directed. "I must save myself for performance, not parade."
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