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Updated: June 16, 2025
He considered this carefully, and with a throb of jealously concluded that Dakota's action in saving Sheila's life would very likely pave the way for a closer acquaintance. Certainly, in spite of Sheila's remark about Dakota being a "brute," she had betrayed evidence of admiration for the man.
Sheila's eyes mocked Langford as she intercepted his gaze, which had been fixed on Dakota. "It was evidence against him," she concluded, indicating her father. "I reckon I see." The smile was entirely gone out of Dakota's face now, and as he turned to look at Langford there was an expression in his eyes which chilled the latter. "You've flunked on the agreement.
Why don't you act decent and come out like a man?" "Go and look at the corpse," insisted Dakota. "There'll be plenty of time to look at the corpse after you're took." There was no answer. Allen sighed regretfully. "Well," he said presently, "I've done what I could. From now on, I'm looking for you." "Just a minute, Allen," came Dakota's voice.
She did not blame herself for Dakota's dilemma, though she felt a keen regret over her treatment of him, over her unjust suspicions. He had really been in earnest when he had told her the night before on the river trail that he was not guilty that everybody had misjudged him.
Through the slow-dragging hours of the morning she sat beside him, giving him the best care possible under the circumstances, but in spite of her efforts the fever steadily rose, and at noon he sat suddenly up in the bunk and gazed at her with blazing, vacuous eyes. "You're a liar!" he shouted. "Dakota's square!" Sheila stifled a scream of fear and shrank from him.
"What I told you about that calf deal is the story that Dakota himself tells about it. A lot of people in this country don't believe Dakota's story. They believe what I believe, that Dakota and Blanca were in partnership on that deal, and that Dakota framed up that story about Blanca selling out to him to avert suspicion. It's likely that they wised up to the fact that we were on to them."
At the sound of the knock, Dakota's voice came from within the cabin, burdened with mockery. "Sorry, Allen," it said, "but I'm locked up for the night. Can't take any chances on leaving my door unbarred can't tell who's prowling around. If you'd sent word, now, so I would have had time to dress decently, I might have let you in, seeing it's you. I'm sure some sorry." "Sorry, too."
Signed: "David Dowd Langford." There it was conclusive, damning evidence of her father's guilt and of Dakota's! How cleverly that last clause covered the evil intent of the document! Sheila read it again and again with dry eyes. Her horror and grief were too great for tears.
Conversations she had had with Duncan; he seemed a gentleman, living at the Double R ranchhouse with his sister, but in no conversation with anyone had Sheila even mentioned Dakota's name, fearing that something in her manner might betray her secret. To everyone but herself the picture of her adventure that night on the trail must remain invisible.
Gradually the soft patter seemed to draw farther away, became faint, and more faint, and finally she heard it no more. It was the barking of a dog that brought Sheila out of a sleep dreamless this time into a state of semi-consciousness. It was Dakota's dog surely, she decided sleepily. She sighed and twisted to a more comfortable position.
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