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Updated: June 20, 2025
"Look here, old fellow," Holderness interrupted, "it's all splendid, of course, and I'm dying to hear you talk about it, but come along now and be introduced to Miss Van Teyl. Molly's over there, waiting, and we're all half starved." "So am I," was the cheerful answer. "Hullo, Lutchester, how are you? Just one moment. I must get a wash, I motored straight through, and I'm choked with dust.
It expressed hunger, anger and loneliness. It was an almost human cry, and, for a moment, Holderness felt an awe of the strange youth beside him. When the last variation of the cry was gone and the echo had died away, the lieutenant gravely took a shining shilling from his pocket and handed it to Henry. "You win with ease," he said. "Listen, you do it so well that the real wolf himself is fooled."
Why did he lag at the spring when, if he expected riders from his ranch, he could have gone on to meet them, obviously saving time and putting greater distance between him and the men he had wronged? Was it utter fearlessness or only a deep-played game? Holderness and his rustlers, all except the gloomy Naab, were blind to the peril that lay beyond the divide.
"It is easy to see, friend, that you were born far from the marches of Scotland," quoth the stranger, with a bitter smile. "North of Humber there is no man who would not know the handiwork of Devil Douglas, the black Lord James." "And how fell you into his hands?" asked John. "I am a man of the north country, from the town of Beverley and the wapentake of Holderness," he answered.
Why, even an Indian respects desert law!" "Bah! I'm not a Mormon or an Indian. I'm a cattleman. It's plain business with me. Once more I make you the offer." Naab scorned to reply. The men faced each other for a silent moment, their glances scintillating. Then Holderness whirled on his heel, jostling into Hare. "Get out of my way," said the rancher, in the disgust of intense irritation.
If ever Hare breathed a prayer it was then. What if one of the band awakened! As the rustler turned at the door his dark face gleamed in the flickering light. He unwound the lasso and opened the door without a sound. Hare whispered: "Heavens! if he goes in she'll scream! that will wake Holderness then I must shoot I must!" But the Mormon rustler added wisdom to his cunning and stealth.
The Mormons north of Lund finally banded together, hanged some rustlers, and drove the others out. Many of them have come down into our country, and Holderness now has a strong force. But the Mormons will rise against him. I know it; I see it. I am waiting for it. We are God-fearing, life-loving men, slow to wrath. But " The deep rolling burr in his voice showed emotion too deep for words.
He out-topped even Naab in height, and was a superb blond-bearded man, striding with the spring of a mountaineer. "Good-day to you, Naab," he said. "Is this the young fellow you picked up?" "Yes. Jack Hare," rejoined Naab. "Well, Hare, I'm Holderness. You'll recall my name. You were sent to Lund by men interested in my ranges. I expected to see you in Lund, but couldn't get over."
Hare's mouth was dry and his temples throbbed as he asked himself what it was best to do. The answer came instantaneously as though it had lain just below the level of his conscious thought. "I'll watch till Holderness walks out into sight, jump up with a yell when he comes, give him time to see me, to draw his gun then kill him!"
Holderness stood foremost, his tall form leaning against the bar, his clear eyes shining like light on ice. "Do you know me?" asked Hare, curtly. Holderness started slightly. "I certainly don't," he replied. "You slapped my face once." Hare leaned close to the rancher. "Slap it now you rustler!"
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