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Updated: May 20, 2025
Langford shifted uneasily on the box, for the seat was not to his liking and the attitude of his host was most peculiar. He fell silent also and kicked gravely and absently into a hummock with the toe of his boot. Singularly enough, a plan which had taken form in his mind since Doubler had shot at him seemed suddenly to have many defects, though until now it had seemed complete enough.
"But not for murder," said Sheila evenly, unable to keep a quiver of triumph out of her voice. "Not?" said Langford, startled. "Why not?" "Because," returned Sheila, enjoying the sudden consternation that was revealed in her father's face, and drawling her words a little to further confound him; "because Doubler isn't dead." "Not dead!"
"You mean that it was bad business for me to sell when I knowed Doubler owned land near the Double R?" There was a slight sneer in his voice as he looked at Langford. "You've never been stung before, eh? Well, there's always a first time for everything, and I reckon according to what I've heard that you ain't been exactly no Sunday school scholar yourself." Langford's eyes were narrowed to slits.
"You said you were beginning to like some of the people," said Duncan presently. "You don't like me. Then who do you like?" "Well," she said, appearing to meditate, but in reality watching him closely so that she might catch his gaze when he looked up. "There's Ben Doubler. He seems to be a very nice old man.
"What makes you think that you could hire me to put Doubler out of business?" "I saw you shoot Blanca," said Langford. "And I sounded Duncan." It did not disturb him to discover that Dakota had all along been aware of the object of his visit. It rather pleased him, in fact, to be given proof of the man's discernment it showed that he was deep and clever.
"Thank you." He maneuvered his pony until the moonlight streamed in her face. "I reckon you've got the same notion as your father that I shot Doubler?" he said, watching her narrowly. "You are willing to take Duncan's word for it?" "Duncan's word, and the agreement which I found in the pocket of your vest," she returned, without looking at him. "I suppose that is proof enough?"
It was a quarter section lying adjacent to good water, and provided the best grass in the vicinity. Duncan had had trouble with Doubler over the water rights, too, but had been unsuccessful in ousting him because of the fact that since Doubler controlled the land he also controlled the water rights of the river adjoining it.
There is no reason now why I should lie, and so I want you to know that I am telling the truth when I say that I didn't shoot Doubler. Won't you believe me?" "No," she returned, unaffected by the earnestness in his voice. "You were at Doubler's cabin when I heard the shot I met you on the trail. You killed that man, Blanca, over in Lazette, for nothing.
After gaining the bank he halted his pony and looked intently at her. "You're Langford's daughter, I reckon," he said. "Yes," she returned, seeing that he was a stranger; "I am." "I'm Ben Allen," he said shortly; "the sheriff of this county. What are you doing here?" "I am taking care of Ben Doubler," she said; "he has been " "Then he ain't dead, of course," said Allen, interrupting her.
But now that Doubler had shown in no unmistakable manner that he had not been trifling the day before, Langford was no longer in doubt as to the method he would have to employ in his attempt to gain possession of his land. Doubler, he felt, had made the choice.
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