Part 31 (2/2)

This gave Beck much to think about.

He was saddling his horse at noon when Hepburn approached and asked his plans for the balance of the day.

”It depends on what I find. I'm after horses first, but I might have a look at other things. There's so d.a.m.ned much happenin' around here that it pays a man to look sharp.”

”You'd better cut out that sort of talk, Beck!”

”What talk?”--mockingly. ”Seems to me if you didn't know any more than I do you wouldn't be so easily roiled up, Hepburn.”

”You mind your business and I'll look after mine,” the foreman warned, breathing heavily. ”About one more break from you and we'll part company.”

His eyes glittered ominously and his face was malicious.

”I wouldn't be surprised. This outfit's a little too small for you and me. It seems to shrink every day, Dad. Maybe, sometime, you'll have to go, but just keep this in your head: I've promised Miss Hunter to stay and my word is good.”

He mounted and Hepburn, walking slowly toward the stable, twirled his mustache speculatively, one eye lid drooped as though he saw faintly a plan which promised to solve perplexities.

Beck was cautious that afternoon, as he had trained himself to be when riding alone. He kept an eye on the back trail and scanned both gulches when he rode a ridge; but cautious as he was he did not see the two riders who sat on quiet horses beneath a spreading juniper tree at the head of Twenty Mile.

It was after dark when he returned to the ranch and the moon was just commencing to show. The others were at supper. He threw his gun and chaps into the bunk house and fed his horse. As he walked down toward the ranch house the other men were straggling out and their dining room was empty. Carlotta brought him steaming food and he ate with gusto.

When he had nearly finished Jane entered and he started to rise, but she made him remain seated.

”What do you suppose that man Webb is doing here?” she asked. ”Hepburn explains that he is trying to arrange to send a representative with our round-up.”

”Whatever he's doin' here, it ain't for your good,” he replied.

”Nor yours.”

”Don't you worry about mine, ma'am and unless he's a lot smarter than I think he is, or unless he's got lots of help, don't figure he's goin'

to do you any great harm. He's just a low-down--”

A man was running toward the house and he broke off to listen.

Two-Bits came hurriedly into the room, eyes wide, face white, showing none of his usual confusion at Jane's presence.

”Tommy, they want you,” he said unnaturally.

”Yeah? What for, Two-Bits?”

”I don't know, Tommy. Hepburn an' Riley an' Webb an' the rest want you.

I don't know what it is, Tommy, but it must be serious.”

Tom saw the anxiety in Jane's eyes. She did not put her query into words; it was not necessary; he knew and answered:

”I ain't got an idea, ma'am, but I'll go find out. You're all wound up, Two-Bits!”--laughing.

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