United States or Ecuador ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Hare leaped from his hiding-place. "Holderness!" The rustler pivoted on whirling heels. "Dene's spy!" he exclaimed, aghast. Swift changes swept his mobile features. Fear flickered in his eyes as he faced his foe; then came wonder, a glint of amusement, dark anger, and the terrible instinct of death impending. "Naab's trick!" hissed Hare, with his hand held high.
"Father!" Dave Naab spoke sharply from where he stood high on a grassy bank. "Here's Dene now, riding up with Culver, and some man I don't know. They're coming in. Dene's jumped the fence! Look out!" A clatter of hoofs and rattling of gravel preceded the appearance of a black horse in the garden path.
Dene's niece, while his cowman had got engaged to Mary Jane. Folk said none of 'em was particular well suited, but the thing had fallen out as such matters will, and there weren't no base of real love behind the engagements, except in the case of White's sister. There's no doubt James White loved Cora Dene for her cooking, as well he might, because she was a wonder in that art.
John Caldwell stood foremost, with ashen lips breaking bitterly into speech: "Mormons, this is Dene's spy, the man who killed Holderness!" The listeners burst into the short stern shout of men proclaiming a leader in war. "What's the game?" demanded Hare. "A fair trial for the rustlers, then a rope," replied John Caldwell. The low ominous murmur swelled through the crowd again.
You yourself will find it pretty warm when you go out with us on the ranges, and if you make White Sage you'll find it hot. You're called 'Dene's spy' there, and the rustlers are still looking for you. I wouldn't worry about it, though." "Why not, I'd like to know?" inquired Hare, with a short laugh.
An', stranger, who might you be?" "I'm one of August Naab's riders." "Dene's spy!" Snood looked Hare over carefully, with much interest, and without any show of ill-will. "I've heerd of you. An' what might one of Naab's riders want of Holderness?" "I rode in to Seeping Springs yesterday," said Hare, eying the foreman. "There was a new pond, fenced in. Our cattle couldn't drink.
"Watching the road. He's one of Dene's scouts." "Will Dene " One of Naab's sons came trotting back. "Think that was Larsen's pal. He was laying in wait for Snap." "I thought he was a scout for Dene," replied August. "Maybe he's that too." "Likely enough. Hurry along and keep the gray team going lively. They've had a week's rest."
The other man rose and stood, fidgeting with a silver cigarette-box on the table and looking from Dene's pale, haggard face to the floor. "You're you're behaving like a brick you're doing me a good turn, Dene " he muttered, hoarsely. "Oh, for God's sake, don't do that!" broke in Dene, with contemptuous impatience. "Clear your mind of that idea.
"I've been lending a hand generally." The man looked at him with an increased interest, as if struck by the tone of Dene's voice. "Oh!" he said, thoughtfully. "Engaged at the last moment? Well, you'd better go and see the guv'nor." "Gentleman in the fur coat?" asked Dene. "The same," said the man, with a grin. "You haven't met him yet? Engaged through an agent, I suppose?
"He's all in. Better send him out of the country. He's got the name of Dene's spy and he'll never get another on this desert. Dene will kill him. This isn't good judgment, Naab, to take him with you. Even your friends don't like it, and it means trouble for you." "We've settled it," said Naab, coldly. "Well, remember, I've warned you.
Word Of The Day