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But Nyland had not been hit, and he grinned felinely as he dropped to the ground, slipped under the window, and ran around the house. Ducking under the side window he ran around to the front. From the front window he could look through the house, and he saw the man, gun in hand, watching the side door.
For he had heard that day in Okar that Ben Nyland had taken a train eastward that morning, to return on the afternoon of the day following. And during the time Dale had been talking with Maison; and Silverthorn, and playing cards with them, he thought often of Peggy Nyland. Silverthorn and Morley did not remain long in Maison's private room in the bank building.
"Dale is a beast! You heard Peggy tell how he has hounded her. It is true; she has told me about it more than once. Dale hasn't told, of course; but it is my opinion that Dale put the Double A cattle into Ben's corral so that he could hang Ben. With Ben out of the way he could take the Nyland property and Peggy, too." "Why did he use Double A cattle?" Mary paled.
A rumor came to the men, however, just before they started, which made several of them look at one another for there had been those who had seen Ben Nyland riding down the street toward Maison's bank in the dusk, his face set and grim and a wild light in his eyes. "Maison has been guzzled he's deader than a salt mackerel!" came the word, leaping from lip to lip. Sheriff Warde grinned.
He rode far in advance of the two men who accompanied him, not listening to their voices, which occasionally reached him, not seeming to be aware of their presence. Defeat had always brought bitterness to Dale; his eyes were glowing with a futile rage as he led his men homeward. Dale's scheme to dispose of Ben Nyland had been carefully planned and deftly carried out.
The more Maison's thoughts dwelt upon the occurrence the deeper grew his rage. He even condoned Dale's action in bringing the Nyland girl to his rooms. Dale was his friend, and he would protect him!
But he broke in after a time, gruffly: "What's the trouble between Dale and the Nylands?" Instantly she stiffened. "I forgot to tell you about that. Ben Nyland is a nester. He has a quarter-section of land on the northwestern edge of the basin. But he hasn't proved on it. The land adjoins Dale's. Dale wants it he has always wanted it. And he means to have it. He also wants Peggy Nyland.
I'd like mighty well to accommodate you, but I've got my duty to consider, an' I can't let him off. Ben Nyland has got to hang, an' that's all there is to it!" There came a passionate outcry from Peggy Nyland; and then she had her arms around her brother's neck, sobbing that she would never let him be hanged. Miss Bransford's eyes were blazing with rage and scorn as they challenged Dale's.
And at the sound of the other's voice the newcomer cried out in astonishment: "Ben Nyland! What in hell are you doin' here?" "Lookin' for Dale," said the other, hoarsely. "Thought you was him, an' come pretty near borin' you. What saved you was a notion I had of wantin' Dale to know what I was killin' him for! Pretty close, Deal!" "Why do you want to kill him?"
But she felt that she had lost something, and the second day had gone before she succeeded in resigning herself to the new state of affairs. Nothing happened. Dale did not come near the ranchhouse. Mary rode over to the Nyland ranch and had a long talk with Peggy, and Peggy told her that she had not seen Dale.
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