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"Who's after you?" yelled her father, as she pulled the black to a halt Jorth held a rifle Daggs, Colter, the other Jorths were there, likewise ar with expectancy

"Shore nobody's after me," replied Ellen "Cain't I run a horse round heah without being chased?"

Jorth appeared both incensed and relieved

"Hah!What you ht down on us? You're actin' queer these days, an' you look queer I'm not likin' it"

"Reckon these are queer tis found strange horse tracks crossin' the meadow," said her father "An' that worried us Some one's been snoopin' round the ranch An' e seen you runnin' so e shore thought you was bein' chased"

"No I was only trying out Spades to see how fast he could run," returned Ellen "Reckon e do get chased it'll take sos "It shore will, Ellen"

"Girl, it's not only your runnin' an' your looks that's queer," declared Jorth, in dark perplexity "You talk queer"

"Shore, dad, y'u're not used to hearing spades called spades," said Ellen, as she dismounted

"Humph!" ejaculated her father, as if convinced of the uselessness of trying to understand a woe horse tracks?"

"I reckon I did And I knoho made them"

Jorth stiffened All the men behind him showed a sudden intensity of suspense

"Who?" demanded Jorth