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Jorth's hand and arm dropped lied into discoe He raised a hand as if to strike Ellen And suddenly Daggs's long ar to free his," he shouted, stridently "Arab me?"

"Wal, y'u ain't drunk, I reckon," replied the rustler, with sarcass I'll reserve for your private ear"

Jorth gained a semblance of composure But it was evident that he labored under a shock

"Ellen, did Jean Isbel see this black horse?"

"Yes He asked ot Spades an' I told hied to him?"

"Shore I reckon he, proved it Y'u can always tell a horse that loves its ive Spades back?"

"Yes But Isbel wouldn't take him"

"Hah!An' why not?"

"He said he'd rather I kept hi deal, an' he reckoned he'd not be able to care for a fine horse I didn't want Spades I tried to make Isbel take him But he rode off And that's all there is to that"

"Maybe it's not," replied Jorth, chewing his aze "Y'u've met this Isbel twice"

"It wasn't any fault of mine," retorted Ellen

"I heah he's sweet on y'u How aboot that?"

Ellen smarted under the blaze of blood that swept to neck and cheek and temple But it was only meht think were aze with truthful blazing eyes

"I heah talk fros heah--"

"Daggs nothin'!" interrupted that worthy "Don't fetch me in I said nothin' an' I think nothin'"

"Yes, Jean Isbel eet on ain," returned Ellen, in low tones With that she pulled her saddle off Spades and, throwing it over her shoulder, she walked off to her cabin

Hardly had she gotten indoors when her father entered

"Ellen, I didn't know that horse belonged to Isbel," he began, in the swift, hoarse, persuasive voice so faht him--traded with Slater for him Honest to God, I never had any idea he was stolen!Why, when y'u said 'that horse y'u stole,' I felt as if y'u'd knifed me"