Part 59 (1/2)

”You didn't send for him to ask him to take you back? You didn't do that?”

”I have told you my motive once; that was the truth ... whole truth.”

Again Bobby turned and again her accusing, flaring eyes sought Hilton's distraught face.

”So you lied to me again, did you? That was a lie, was it?” She waited.

”Well, why don't you answer?” she flung at him and stood, directing on him the hate that she had once shown for Jane Hunter.

But when she wheeled sharply back to confront the mistress of the HC her eyes were bathed in tears, her head was thrown back, and she threw her arms wide.

”He did lie to me!” she panted. ”He did.... I hated you because I thought you had friends an' folks that respected you. He lied an' it made me hate you worse....” She choked with sobs and Jane stepped down from the rock to put hands on her shoulders.

”Oh, miss, I've acted so bad to you!” Bobby moaned lowly. ”I ... I didn't know, didn't understand. I thought you didn't want anything but harm to come to us. I stole from you because I hated you.... I ...”

She threw back her head again and the weakness of spiritual distress dropped from her. Her voice grew full and firm.

”You've treated us like n.o.body else ever treated us before. You had Alf tied down to a calf stealin' an' you let him go. You.... You've been tryin' to do me good all the while I've been tryin' to do you harm.

They've been warrin' on you an' I ... I could have stopped it!”

She wheeled, facing the men, her back to Jane. Her shoulders were drawn up and she leaned backward. Her face was white, voice shrill. Her eyes burned.

”Well ... you, Webb, an' Hepburn an' your whole filthy crew ... I'm done with you at last!”

Thunder boomed sharply. The gloom was so deep that the features of the men she addressed could scarcely be made out.

”You've tried to double-cross us from the first. You was as guilty as Alf today but you had it on us. I couldn't make a move without gettin'

in worse.... You, Hilton, if it hadn't been for you, I'd have sent the bunch of you to h.e.l.l by tellin' th' straight story when they came for Alf to-day! I ... I thought you loved me,”--gaspingly. ”Ah! I thought you loved me, an' I'd have let Alf go to jail alone because of it....

”Well, it ain't too late! Listen, all of you! You HC riders, don't let a man move until I get through!”

Her eyes, quick, alert, intent, ran from face to face before her and her whole body trembled as though the things that she would tell clamoured to be out and were held back by great effort until she could make them coherent.

”Hepburn, you're first!”

The man made one movement aside as if he would evade and Tom Beck's voice rang out sharply:

”Not a move!”

Jane Hunter wheeled, a stifled word in her throat and watched him slowly advance. His face was drawn as by great suffering, his eyes burned as though his heart was wrenched with every beat. His mouth was set and his jaw thrust forward and the revolver he held close against his hip was as steady as rock. He moved slowly forward.

”Swing back there, you men,”--and at his gesture the HC riders deployed, swinging to either side. He stood beside the two girls at the point of a V, the sides of which were formed by cowboys and beyond the opening of which the other group drew together as for protection in the face of this coming storm. Hepburn was foremost and the true scoundrel now glared through the mask of his benevolence.

”Go on,” Beck said quietly.

”You're first,” the girl repeated, as though there had been no interruption.

”You planned to steal the HC blind, as soon as th' old owner died. You didn't have th' nerve to do it like I'd 've done it. You sent for us, because you knowed Alf had this brand which 'uld make stealin' easy!”

”You're lying!”