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"I--I believe you--but I can't believe such--such robbery possible," gasped Helen

"It's simple as two an' two Possession is law out here Once Beasley gets on the ground it's settled What could you do with no ht for your property?"

"But, surely, soh"

"Then I can hire more The Beeman boys And Dale would come to help me"

"Dale would come An' he'd help a heap I wish he was here," replied Caret him He's snowed-up till May"

"I dare not confide in uncle," said Helen, with agitation "The shock ht kill him Then to tell him of the unfaithfulness of his old men--that would be cruel Oh, it can't be so bad as you think"

"I reckon it couldn't be no worse An'--Miss Nell, there's only one way to get out of it--an' thet's the way of the West"

"How?" queried Helen, eagerly

Car down at her He seemed completely detached now from that frank, amiable cowboy of her first ione froe and cold and sure looked out of his eyes

"I seen Beasley go in the saloon as I rode past Suppose I go down there, pick a quarrel with hiht with a cold shock

"Carmichael! you're not serious?" she exclaimed

"Serious? I shore am Thet's the only way, Miss Nell An' I reckon it's what Al would want An' between you an' me--it would be easier than ropin' a calf These fellars round Pine don't savvy guns Now, I couns un slick an' fast, why I shore ain't braggin' You needn't worry none about ns of her shocked sensibility to mean she feared for his life But what had sickened her was the mere idea of bloodshed in her behalf

"You'd--kill Beasley--just because there are ruasped Helen

"Shore It'll have to be done, anyhow," replied the cowboy

"No! No! It's too dreadful to think of Why, that would be murder I--I can't understand how you speak of it--so--so calmly"

"Reckon I ain't doin' it calmly I'm as mad as hell," said Carmichael, with a reckless smile