The Trail to Yesterday

was not the Dakota whom she had feared during her adventure with him in his cabin on the night of her arrival in the country. He had changed, and though she assured herself that she despise

lemma which made her yearn to inflict punishment upon him that would cause him to ask for mercy. His demeanor had said plainly that if she wished to have the marriage s

an. Langford had been worried, he said, and was much concerned over her appearance. In the presence of Duncan Sheil

he chap who shot that half-breed

he ejaculated:

t a glint in Duncan's eyes which told her that she had echoed the latter's sentiments, and

cterize a man who had saved my life. The chances are that after saving y

ch of a man," remarke

a comprehending smile. "Evidently you ow

ening he told the story of the calf deal, which

e couldn't catch him with the goods. Five years ago, after the spring round-up,

sold out to Dakota. We didn't know that at the time; didn't find it out until we went over to take Blanca and found Dakota living in his cabin. He had a bill of sale from Blanca al

for the recollection of what had actually occurred at the meeting between him and Dakota was not pleasant, and since tha

e reason which she could not entirely explain, she suspected that Du

dmitted Dunca

felt over this admission. Perhaps Duncan read

elieve that Blanca had sold him th

red. She was not certain which gave her the thrill she felt-her defens

antly, "it does seem that he is the sort of man I would not care to trifle with-if I were a man. You told me yourself, if you remember, that you were not taki

fraid of him, I rec

since then she had heard him speak venomously of him, and she had suspected that all was not smooth between them. And now since Duncan had related the story of the calf incident she was certain that the relations between the two

artly concealed, "I do not believe that you are afraid. Perhaps you are merely careful where he is concerned. But I am cer

Sheila met with a disarming smile-convinced her that he was aware of her object. S

garded her with

e the pony over to him the first

wing one of the men to take the pony back. Perhaps I shall decide to ride over th

o reply, for directly she had spoken she turned and walked toward the ranchhouse. Both D

ve you done to he

ling the saddle from Dakota

cident of her rescue she had come to the conclusion that she had not treated Dakota fairly, and by personally taking his horse to him she would have an opportunity to proffer her tardy thanks for his service. She

heir wide circles, when she saw Duncan riding away from the ranchhouse, leading Dakota's pony. She started toward the

she said, and Duncan turned his head, b

her. After the puncher had secured a suitable appearing animal and had placed a saddle and bridle on it, she compelled him to ride i

he calves by Blanca, Duncan had taken pains to insinuate publicly that Dakota's purchase of the Star from the half-breed had been a clever ruse to avert suspicion, intimating that a partnership ex

obability Dakota himself had suggested the plan in order to force a meeting with him. This thought suggested another. Sheila's defense of Dakota seemed to indicate that a certain intimacy ex

to his own fear of meeting Dakota were very likely founded on something which Dakota had told her, and certainly anything which Dakota might have said abo

er calling once and receiving no answer, he dismounted and hitched Dakota's pon

of his enemy, to sneer over the evidences of prosperity which were on every hand. He was congratulating himself on his good fortune in reaching Dakota's cabin during a time when the latter was

id not speak at once and when he did

ur cayuse back,"

cold humor, though they were still regarding Duncan

s in evidence again. "I don't recollect, thoug

o death over the jo

yed no sign of resenting his visit, Duncan felt easier. T

ver was a time when you were tickled a heap to stic

the latter, with a perfect knowled

wasn't anyone else to send my horse over by?" sai

a Langford sent me," h

edulity. "I reckon you're a lia

was perfectly safe so long as he made no hostile move, for in spite of his derogatory

ent me, just the same. I reckon, liking you as I do, that I ought to be glad she gave me the chance to come over and see you, but I ain't. We was

ical humor, but they were still alert, as he watched Duncan's face for signs of insincerity. He saw no such signs and his expression became mocking. "So she sent you over here?" he said

ce he alone was responsible. So, trying to hold his passions in check, he grinned at Dakota, significantly, insinuatingly, unable finally to keep the bitter hatred and jealousy

ely, "that you take a hea

ness, I suppose?" Dakota'

ure for his own safety he must say nothing which would be likely to arouse Dakota's anger, but the jealous

neer, "that I ain't as much

rl of alarm and fear, for Dakota had stepped down from the d

rhaps Sheila had told of her marriage to him, and the thought that Du

d coyote?" he insisted,

ealously overcoming his better judgment. "Meaning that any woman which has been pull

d with a jerk. And with the same motion his clenched fist was jammed with savage force against Duncan

and twisted until the fingers released the weapon. And then Dakota stood over him, looking down at him with narrowed, chilling eyes, his face

BUT THE HAND HOLDING IT WAS S

calf deal. I've been yearning to hand you something before you left the country, but I didn't expect you'd give me the chance in just this way. I'm warning you that the next time you shove your coyote nose into my business I'll muss it up some. That applies to Miss Sheila. If I ever hear of

id mockingly, as Duncan urged his horse away from the