Page 61 (1/1)

"Not guilty, ma'am"

His jaunty insouciance struck a spark from her "That is what you told us before, and within half an hour we found out that you knehere the booty was hidden Before that discrepancy was cleared up you convinced us of your innocence by stealing the money a second time"

"What did I do with it?" he asked

"How should I know?"

From his pocket he drew a note book Between two of its leaves was a slip of paper which he handed to Moya It was a receipt in full from the treasurer of the Gunnison County Fair association to John Kilmeny for the suirl looked at hi eyes "You repented and took the money back?"

"No I didn't repent, but I took it back"

"Why?"

"That's a long tale It's tied up with the story of oes back thirty-one years, before I was born, in fact Want to hear it?"

"Yes"

"My father was a young man when he came to this country The West wasn't very civilized then My father was fearless and outspoken Thisin the country where his ranch lay He lost calves One day he caught a brand blotter at work The fellow refused to surrender There was a fight, and irl softly in fascinated horror

"Such things had to be in those days Any o to the wall"

"I can see that I wasn't bla your father Onlyit must have been horrible to have to do"

"The fellow thieves of the ht the chief--that's what I used to callhell in the cohere the stockone there by appointed note He knew he had probably coe as soon as he had stepped into the place His one chance was to turn and run He wouldn't do that"

"I love hioes that he looked thehed in a slow irritating way thatat the son, could believe easily this story of the father "Go on," she nodded tensely

"The quarrel cauns flashed a stranger rose from a corner and told the rustlers they would have to count him in the scrap, that he wouldn't stand for a six to one row"