Page 16 (1/1)

Beasley turned away and took a step, and then, as if with an after-thought, he wheeled again

"Suppose you've heard about old Al Auchincloss bein' near petered out?" queried Beasley A strong, ponderous cast of thought seemed to emanate from his features Dale divined that Beasley's next step would be to further his advancement by some word or hint

"Widow Cass was tellin' me all the news Too bad about old Al," replied Dale

"Sure is He's done for An' I'h Al's never been square--"

"Beasley," interrupted Dale, quickly, "you can't say that to me Al Auchincloss alas the whitest an' squarest , dark glance

"Dale, what you think ain't goin' to influence feelin' on this range," returned Beasley, deliberately "You live in the woods an'--"

"Reckon livin' in the woods I ht think--an' knohole lot," interposed Dale, just as deliberately The group of lances This was Milt Dale in different aspect And Beasley did not conceal a puzzled surprise

"About what--now?" he asked, bluntly

"Why, about what's goin' on in Pine," replied Dale

Sooin' on--an' no mistake," put in Lem Harden

Probably the keen Beasley had never before considered Milt Dale as a responsible person; certainly never one in any way to cross his trail But on the instant, perhaps, soonis

"Dale, I've differences with Al Auchincloss--have had them for years," said Beasley "Much of what he owns is oin' to come to me Now I reckon people will be takin' sides--some for me an' some for Al Most are for me Where do you stand? Al Auchincloss never had no use for you, an' besides he's a dyin' oin' on his side?"

"Yes, I reckon I alad you've declared yourself," rejoined Beasley, shortly, and he strode aith the ponderous gait of a man ould brush any obstacle from his path

"Milt, thet's bad--makin' Beasley sore at you," said Lem Harden "He's on the way to boss this outfit"

"He's sure goin' to step into Al's boots," said another

"Thet hite of Milt to stick up fer poor old Al," declared Lehtful way down the road The burden of what he knew about Beasley weighed less heavily upon him, and the close-lipped course he had decided upon appeared wisest He needed to think before undertaking to call upon old Al Auchincloss; and to that end he sought an hour's seclusion under the pines