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It hurt him keenly to realize that he might have been a better, kinder father if it were not for the fear that she would find him out. But that proved he loved her, craved her respect and affection. "Wal, little girl, tell me," he said. "He he broke his word to me." "A-huh! Thet's too bad. An' how did he?" "He he " Lucy seemed to catch her tongue.

"Wal, Lucy, I'd just like to see you fetch some fool love-sick rider around when I'm feelin' good," said Bostil. Lucy laughed, but there was a roguish, daring flash in her eyes. "Dad, you do seem to have all the young fellows scared. Some day maybe one will ride along a rider like you used to be that nobody could bluff.... And he can have me!" "A-huh! ... Lucy, are you in fun?"

Bo must have felt it, too, for she was trembling all over, and holding tightly to Helen, and breathing quick and fast. "A-huh!" muttered Dale, under his breath. Helen caught the relief and certainty in his exclamation, and she divined, then, something of what the moment must have been to a hunter. Then her roving, alert glance was arrested by a looming gray shadow coming out of the forest.

Snake Anson's roar of laughter ceased rather suddenly. "Hyar, Jim, she might have held up the whole gang with thet gun," he protested. "I reckon she 'ain't nothin' ag'in' us," replied Wilson. "A-huh! You know a lot about wimmen now, don't you? But thet did my heart good. Jim, what 'n earth would you have did if thet 'd been you instead of Riggs?" The query seemed important and amazing.

As he glanced around, evidently seeking Burt, his face clouded. "No sign of Burt?" he asked. Wilson expressed a mild surprise. "Wal, Snake, you ain't expectin' Burt now?" "I am, course I am. Why not?" demanded Anson. "Any other time we'd look fer him, wouldn't we?" "Any other time ain't now.... Burt won't ever come back!" Wilson spoke it with a positive finality. "A-huh!

"Reckon this feller ridin' up will take down the prize money," remarked Holley, and he pointed to a man who rode a huge, shaggy, black horse and was leading Lucy's pony. "A-huh!" exclaimed Bostil. "A strange rider." "An' here comes Lucy coaxin' the stallion back," added Holley. "A wild stallion never clear broke!" ejaculated Cordts.

But I'm afraid I'd find out if I came down there." "A-huh! It's the girl!" "I don't know, but I'm afraid so. An' I won't come." "Aw yes, you will " Helen rose with beating heart and tingling ears, and moved away out of hearing. She had listened too long to what had not been intended for her ears, yet she could not be sorry.

"A-huh!" exclaimed Snake, in relief. Silence ensued then for a moment, at the end of which interval Dale heard a rapid clip-clop on the rocky trail outside. The men below shuffled uneasily, but none of them spoke. The fire cracked cheerily. Snake Anson stepped back from before the door with an action that expressed both doubt and caution. The trotting horse had halted out there somewhere.

But the spirit that gave her the nerve to attempt either plan bade her wait, not too long, but longer, in the hope of a more favorable moment. Frank returned to Fresno, and he carried the sack of gold that had caused dissension. Fresno laughed. "Sandy's plugged hard low down," said Frank. "He can't live. An' Old Miles is croaked." "A-huh! Frank, I'll go git the other packs.

Once there, in sight of his comrades, his action and expression changed. "Hosses all thar, Jim?" asked Anson, as he picked up, his cards. "Shore. They act awful queer, them hosses," replied. Wilson. "They're afraid of somethin'." "A-huh! Silvertip mebbe," muttered Anson. "Jim, You jest keep watch of them hosses. We'd be done if some tarnal varmint stampeded them."