The Rangeland Avenger

e from the Chinese cook, and then the seven dealers of justice t

ging eye. That was his country. A man could see up there, and he could see the truth. Down here in the valley everything wa

ing to escape from the posse, but he would have to flee before he had a chance to deal finally with Sandersen. Chiefly he

d-faced Montana and asked: "Who

why they call him Cold Feet. Besides, he teaches the school. Where's they a real man tha

case he would let Cold Feet be hanged. It was a conclusion sufficiently grim, but Riley Sinclair was admittedly a grim man. He had lived for himself, he had worked for himself. On his younger brother, H

eated up a ri

lives sort of far out

Sinc

enver Jim. "Sally and her brother got a shack

t's an old-maidi

Tolerable," he said, "just to

y common assent. Now they stood with their heads bowed, sullen, ti

re i

quite level ground. A stream of spring water flashed across that little tableland, dark in the shadow of the big trees, silver in the sunlight. At the back of the na

Sally!" exclaimed t

?" asked Ril

ble to make out her features, although Riley Sinclair found himself squinting and peering to make them out. She had on something white over her

got Sall

e does she make

know her,

now us. Got anyt

ol!" declared Mason. "Of c

sed it up from the stream and disso

interested in this here

mask the lower part of his face from the bridge of his nose d

ing, and, having cut eyeholes, he fastened the upper edge of the cloth under the brim of his hat and ti

of the party followed in a lurching, loose-formed wedge. At the edge of the l

a getaway," he said as h

place of leader by natural right. The others imitated his exam

en. Me and Buck will take care of Cold Feet. He may fight like a rat. That's

nt with this schooltea

ir of

ws. Sally keeps her

-shooter. That example was also imitated by the rest, with the

" called

then the sharp cry of a girl from the interior

w," he said i

en twisted awry. Sinclair looked over the heads of Mason and Denver Jim into the suntanned face that had now paled into a delicate olive

l here for in masks, boys? What you me

his throat solemnly. "It'd be best we

ything. "Oh," she gasped, "y

we su

ldn't hurt a mo

e's done

no,

you stand out

rty, boys? Oh, you fools, you'll

him: "Larsen is letting her talk down

Lodge pompously. "We ain't got any other

g to her full height. "D'you think those fool masks mean

uddenly behind t

Montana, you'd ought to have masked your neck and your Adam's apple sooner'n your face. And you're Bill Sandersen. They ain't any other man in these parts that stands on one heel and point

ade a sweeping gesture, closing her hand as if she had clutched their

back on your hosses a

s lights danced and twinkled in her eyes. The laughter chimed away into words grown suddenly gentle, sudde

fter you and me had talked like partners so many a time! Denver Jim, we'll have a good laugh

Denver Jim, "things seemed

strode to the front and faced the girl. "They's a gent charged wi

she had been a man, she would have struck him

e party should hear her words, "what you need is a stay around Sour

a tidy bluff. Maybe you'd tell a judge that you knowed all these gen

f the girl stood up in her eyes and hated Riley Sinclair, and again he was pleased. It was not that he w

e," said Ri

an

I'll mo

me, you'll be taught b

stand for su

othly and swiftly the hands of Sinclair settled around her elbows. She w

inclair. Then her hand flashed up,

I have to wait twenty

likely the last time you'll see me," dec

is arm. "Strange

opping the edge of his hand downward, struck away the a

f!" said

rang again in his ear:

friends-and t

ith all his heart Riley Sinclair admired her dexterity. He drew the posse bac