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"Thar!" declared John, slapping theup here till my next trip Milt, how 're your hosses?"

"Wintered fine"

"Wal, thet's good We'll need two big, strong hosses right off"

"What for?" queried Dale, sharply He dropped a stick of wood and straightened up frooin' to ride down to Pine with me--thet's what for"

Faestiveness of the Bee trial

At this certain assurance of John's, too significant to be doubted, Dale's thought of Pine gave slow birth to a strange sensation, as if he had been dead and was vibrating back to life

"Tell what you got to tell!" he broke out

Quick as a flash the Mormon replied: "Roy's been shot But he won't die He sent for you Bad deal's afoot Beasley means to force Helen Rayner out an' steal her ranch"

A treh Dale It see connection between his past and this vaguely calling future His e his friend said had the sting of real life

"Then old Al's dead?" he asked

"Long ago--I reckon around the middle of February The property went to Helen She's been doin' fine An' many folks say it's a pity she'll lose it"

"She won't lose it," declared Dale How strange his voice sounded to his own ears! It was hoarse and unreal, as if from disuse

"Wal, we-all have our idees I say she will My father says so Carmichael says so"

"Who's he?"

"Reckon you remember thet cow-puncher who cairls--last fall?"

"Yes They called hias I liked his looks"

"Humph! You'll like hioin' for Miss Helen all along But the deal's cos You rein' out at Pine all winter, watchin' for soet at Miss Helen or Bo Everybody's seen thet An' jest lately he chased Bo on hossback--gave the kid a nasty fall Roy says Riggs was after Miss Helen But I think one or t'other of the girls would do thet vars an' drove him out of town But he come back Beasley called on Miss Helen an' offered to marry her so's not to take the ranch from her, he said"