Riders of the Purple Sage

meant that mischief was brewing. Moreover, to Venters the presence of the masked rider with Oldring seemed especially ominous. For about this man there was mystery, he seldom rode through

confine themselves to

way and went back along the grove. When he reached the path leading to Jane's home he decided to go down to the village. So he hurried onward, with quick soft steps. Once beyond the grove

nches and steps was not in evidence. Keeping in the shadow Venters went closer and closer until he could hear voices. But he could not distinguish what was said. He recognized many Mormons, and looked hard for Tull and his men, but looked in vain.

as dark, Bishop Dyer's home next to it was also dark, and likewise Tull's cottage. Upon almos

scried two mounted men riding toward him. He hugged the shadow of a tree. Again the starlight, brighter now, aided him, and he made ou

about her home, gripping a gun stealthily as an Indian, a man without place or people or purpose. Above her hovered the shadow of grim, hidden, secret power. No queen could have given more royally out of a bounteous store than

n it'll burst. I don't like the prospects." That night the villagers whispered in the street-and night-riding rustlers

ly. Out of the rocks glided a dog that leaped and whined about him. He climbed over rough, broken rock, picking his way carefully, and then went down. Here it was darker, and sheltered from the wind. A white object guided him. It was another dog, and this one was asleep, curled up between a saddle and a pack. The animal awoke and thumped his tail in greeting. Venters placed

d to the blaze for a moment served him and the dogs. He drank from a canteen. There was nothing else in his outfit; he had grown used to a scant fire. Then he sat over the fire, palms outspread, and waited. Waiting had been his chief occupation for months, and he sc

his fallen fortunes these dogs understood the nature of their value to him, and governed their affection and faithfulness accordingly. Whitie watched him with somber eyes of love,

m, presently, a little way off in the sage, and went to fetch him. In that country, where every rider boasted of a fine mount and was

sing, like low swells of a purple sea, stretched the sage. Out of the grove of cottonwoods, a green patch on the purple, gleamed the dull red of Jane Withersteen's old stone house. And from there extended the wide green of t

show against the sky-line, he stood and waved his hat. The almost instant turning of Lassiter's horse attested to the quickness of that rider's eye. Then Venters climbed down, saddled his

im something that had grown cold from neglect. And when he had returned it, with a strong grip of t

in no hurry. Them's sure fine dogs you've got." With a rider's eye he took in the points of Vente

him about t

in Utah how he holes in canyons an' leaves no track." Lassiter was silent a moment. "Me an' Oldrin' wasn't exactly strangers some years b

him? Tell me, is h

owed Mormons who pret

d that unless he was a r

bbe

t for Gentiles. Did you ever know or hear of

ever

ve a mother living in Illinois. I wa

City, wandered here and there as helper, teamster, shepherd, and drifted southward over the divide and across the barrens and up the rugged plateau through the passes to

needn't tell

ve seen the tricks of men. They work hand in hand, all together, an' in the dark. No man can hold out against them, unless he takes to packin' guns. For Mormons are slow to kill. That's the onl

ink as I think,"

throwed a gun on Tull or some of th

r in his face. "But, Lassiter, listen. Out of the wreck I saved a Winchester, two Colts, and plenty of shells. I packed these down into Deception Pass. Ther

plift of his head and a concentration of his gray gaze on Ven

enters made a light

rrowed till his eyes seemed mere gray slits. "Yo

ll keep my word. But sooner or later Tull and I will m

a moment and flicked a sage-brush with his quirt. "Venters, see

to the trace of suppressed e

When she came to Cottonwoods she had a beautiful little girl whom she loved passionately. Milly was not known openly in Cottonwoods as a Mormon wife. That she really was a Mormon wife I have no doubt. Perhaps the Mormon's other wife or wives would not acknowledge Milly. Such things happen in these villages. Mormon wives wear yokes, but they get jealous. Well, whatever had brought Milly to this country-love or madness of religion-she repented of it. She gave up teaching the village school. She quit the church. And she began to fight Mormon upbringing for her baby girl. Then the

ter did not speak

laimed, presently

he Mormon was," replied Venters; "n

e Withers

ning-iron couldn't burn

eir ears. Venters led his comrade to a shady bower and showed him Amber Spring. It was a magnificent outburst of clear, amber water pouring from a dark, stone-lined hole. Lassiter knelt and drank, lingered there to drink again. He made no comment, but Venters did not need words. Next to his horse

illow-skirted channel. Moss and ferns and lilies overhung its green banks. Except for the rough-hewn st

es; a blue heron stood motionless on a water-gate; kingfishers darted with shrieking flight along the shady banks; a white hawk sailed above; and from the trees and shrubs came the song of robins and cat-birds

ofs, and romping colts and heehawing burros. Neighing horses trampled to the corral fences. And on the little windows of the barn projected bobbing heads of bays and blacks and so

ing-skirt and blouse she seemed to have lost some of her statuesque proportions, and looked more like a g

l is quiet. I expected-I don't know what. But there's no

taken Tull away. Was it to avoid another meeting with Lassiter that he went?

You are a rider, and you must be a judge of horseflesh. Some of mine have Arabian blood. My father got his best st

s my eye," said Lassiter, as he walked round

ooking about. "Jerd, Paul, where a

y came pounding out of the door, a file of thoroughbreds, to plunge about the barnyard, heads and tails up, manes flying. They halted afa

hy, Bells-Wrangle, where are your manners? Come, Black S

glittering black, and they were perfectly matched in size, both being high and long-bodied, wide through the shoulders, with lithe, powerful legs. That

day I've seen a sight of horses. Now, ma'am, if you was wanti

, yet behind that was meaning. Jane

on woman. Well, I was expecting you. Now will be a good hour to show you Milly Erne's grave. The day-riders have gone, a

nters, slowly, and his glance sought Lassiter's. "Cattle are usually quie

rrow trouble. C

colorful; there were no dark-blue lines of canyons to hold the eye, nor any uprearing rock walls. It was a long roll and slope into gray obscurity. Soon Jane left the trail and rode into the sage, and presently she dismounted and threw her bridle. The men did likewise. Then, on foot, they followed

er

neglect of an unmarked, uncared-for grave. There was a little bunc

mber and to pray," she sa

were not in sight, nor was there any rock or ridge or cedar to lend contrast to the monotony. Gray slo

then out into space. At that mo

s's arm and led him

ing. "Suppose Lassiter were Milly's husband-th

s ride on. If he wants to

dge, where they had started down, Venters looked back. He did not see Lassiter, but his glance

o, a

see," sa

ng hard. Jane, ther

e must be....

the sage, and then puffs

s-he's making straig

the right of the grove. Suddenly into its lower entrance flashed a bay horse. Then Venters caught the f

r!" he cried. "Jane, when Judkin