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"A rustler--or--or anybody stealin' hosses of yours would most of all want the blacks," said Lassiter His evasive reply was affirloomy acquiescence

"Oh! Oh!" Jane Withersteen choked, with violent utterance

"Let e of the blacks?" asked Blake "One ht hold Black Star and Night, if you put such store on their value"

"Value! Blake, I love my racers Besides, there's another reason why I o to the stables Go with Jerd every day when he runs the horses, and don't let theratitude, guard my black racers"

When Blake had arded Jane with the s rarer as the days sped by

"'Pears to me, as Blake says, you do put soainsayin' that the Arabians are the handsoht, an' run neck en' neck with Black Star"

"Lassiter, don't tease me now I'm miserable--sick Bells is fast, but he can't stay with the blacks, and you know it Only Wrangle can do that"

"I'll bet that big raw-boned brute can more'n show his heels to your black racers Jane, out there in the sage, on a long chase, Wrangle could kill your favorites"

"No, no," replied Jane, impatiently "Lassiter, why do you say that so often? I know you've teased me at ti to keep my mind off worry But you mean more by this repeated mention of my racers?"

"I reckon so" Lassiter paused, and for the thousandth time in her presencethe silver pieces on the band "Well, Jane, I've sort of read a little that's passin' in your ht fly from my home--from Cottonwoods--froet aith the blacks I wouldn't like to see Wrangle left here on the sage Wrangle could catch you I know Venters had hiot his are happenin', an' soht have happened to Venters"

"God knows you're right!Poor Bern, how long he's gone! Inhim But, Lassiter, I've little fear for him I've heardht of as only one offroe drea of my many duties, as you said once For instance--if I dared--if I dared I'd ask you to saddle the blacks and ride aith me--and hide me"