The Forfeit

the Orrville ranching world, big in purse. He was grizzled and gray, and his eyes beamed out of a setting which was surely made for such beaming; a s

aring something of that dominating personality which few successful men are entirely without. All about them lay the heavy-railed corrals of a distant out-station. Just behind stood the rough shanty, wh

of hills. He was seeking one reassuring glimpse of the black, hornless herd whose pastures these were. But only disappointment met him on every side. The beautiful, sleek, Aberdeen-Angus herd

's beat me bad. It's beat me so bad I don't seem able to think right. We'd a hundred head running on this station. As f

during which the statio

doping out big talk, and raising a mighty big wad for the round-up of the whole darnation gang.

ross his moist forehead, and the ges

was hot and fierce for a while, generally to hollowed by a hearty laugh, rather like the passing of a summer storm. But this, in Lew's opinion, was a display of weakness. A sign he neither liked nor respected. The truth was Dug McFarlane had been hit in a direction of

three boys with me. They're right boys, too. I don't guess there's a thing you or me could tell 'em 'bout their work. Not a thing. Day and night one of 'em's on grazin' guard. Them beasties ain't never left to trail off into the hills. Wal, I guess that's all we ken do-sure. Say, you can't hold up a gang of ten an' more

himself have said, no parlor tricks. Dug McFarlane, for all his wealth, for all he had been elected president of the Western Union Cattl

ion. He ignored the man's rough manner. Bu

e other

he bunkhouse-same as

n't she

ok no

out on the tr

gang. I have. An' say, I'm yearnin'-jest gaspin'-to wipe out the score. I don't sort o' care a bit for your loss. That ain't my funeral. But they've beat me plumb out-same as if I was some sucker who ain't never

y word he spoke. In every glance of his fierce eyes. Dug approved him. His ma

swung his horse about to set off northward,

our boys-comin

s in the sunlight. His

that bum guy with the dandy wife way up on Butte Creek. Whitstone, ain't it? Feller with swell folks way down east, an' who guesses the on'y sort o' farmin' worth a cuss is done in Ju

that inspired no other emotion than that of repulsion and self-loa

The latter he did not know, nor was he interested in him. The man he had come to see was Dug McFarlan

while back. It was some two years ago. Maybe you'll remember. You did it to help me out. Anyway, I came over to see you this morning because-I must

s were gazing curiously, speculatively at the figure of the man who ruled the local cattle industry. He was calculating in his own way what might be the effect of the news he had to impart. What

rded him

got news

ed meaningly in the d

m. But-it's m

rned quickly u

re, and see how the Doc's making with y

at Lew Hank withdrew. Even his hardihood, however, was

ot. Then Dug, with almost precipitat

y to hear anything

Effie's appeal. Every man has his price. Bob knew now that he, like the rest, had his price. That price a wo

rply as the othe

housand dollars reward

gang, Mr.

t's

ning in his blue eyes. It was half speculative, half suggestive

rt right up to the limit. It don't matter a thing. I'm not just here to tell you about things. I'm here to lead you to that camp, and take a hand in the hanging when you get busy. You see, I'm a whole hogger. But I want to know how things stand about that ten thousand dol

and feeling was absorbed in it. Here, after five years of vain effort, here, after five years of depredations which had almost threatened the cattle industry in the district with complete crippling,

way to the excitement which stirr

w games on this lay out. I'm a rich man, an' ten thousand dollars ain't a circumstance so we break up this gang. If we only get one of 'em or part of 'em, the man who shows me their hiding

f the woman who had inspired it. But he had scarcely been prepared for such simple methods as this man displayed. He had felt that it was for him to barter, to scheme, to secure the dollars

He would have preferred, however, to have drawn it down over his eyes to escape the searching gaze fr

s were a deal better than I've lately come to think they are. Psha! These fellers have got to be hanged when and where we get them. But it hurts me bad to think that I've got to take dollars for handing you their lives. Oh, that don't tell you a thing either. You'd say I don't need to take 'em. But I do. I got to take

rd of

hand you all I know as we go. I can quit you before we reach the township. Then you can hustle the

ter and Friend. Are the

foot you

d'you take me

hand these folks, these bandits, into our hands. The money's a matter of-ch

*

g against the rough casing, Effie looked down upon his huddled figure. Her eyes were alight with a power of suppressed excit

the understanding that she would have to make her own way in the world. All her parents had been able to do for her was to see that she was as fully equipped for the

dered herself unsuccessful in the first spreading of her maiden wings. A millionair

eradicate. She realized at last when the demands of her campaign made themselves heard, that there was something she had hitherto completely ignored. There was the woman's heart of her. She had most absurdly fallen in love with this fir

as ready to seize any straw which chance flung in her way as a means of salving that amb

were only three matter

they succeed in captur

thousand dollars, whic

customed to dwe

iew with Dug McFarlane. He had returned to her with the assurance that he had sold his conscience, his honor, at her bidding, and

the moon had not risen to reduce the starlit magnificence of the velvet summer night

the bowed figure of the man. They were hard with every bitter woman's emotion. She was full of a

urly cur which barred your way. I tell you I'm hot with every feeling of contempt for your crazy attitude. You dare to set yourself and your moral scruples between my welfare and the miserable life you've condemned m

o

s brooding eyes were on the

ng with the-hangman. You're going to touch those

ee me sitting around here starving, a worn wreck of a woman, than lend a willing hand to bette

ion so that he could gaze up at the

s there's a thing you can do that way can hurt me worse than you've done already." Then he smiled. And his smile was more maddening to the woman than his words. "Don't worry a thing. You're going to get your dollars i

alert movement he r

's

er the low hills. The girl remained with eyes straining to pierce the starlit monotone. The man

ing bee,"