Hidden Gold

t's wrist, a trifling wound, but one which gave him more pain than he might have suffered from a serious injury. None of the members of the posse had been dangerously wounded; indeed, they had suf

Crawling Water since midnight, together with the probability that the Law would be invoked to punish the ranchman for his defiance of it. Popular sentiment was running high over the likelihood of such a step being taken, and the members of the posse were the targets of many host

tossing. Rexhill, with tousled hair, wrapped in a bathrobe, from the bottom of which his bare ankles and slippered feet prot

" he burst out angrily at last. "You had n

started something, and when I saw my chance I seized it. You seem to think"-his voice trailed into scorn-"that we are playing marble

the second isn't a knockout from the other side. Why, confound it, Race, here we had Wade at our mercy. He'd

hered an i

wouldn't hear of it. If you'd taken my advice in the first place, we'd ha

ewhat; but he had never known anything worth while to come out of a heated discussion, and he sought now to calm himself. Finally, he spoke slowly. "What you proposed to me then was a frame-up, and all frame-ups are dangerous, particularly when t

be altogether reasonable. His manner was fast losing the appearance of respect which h

was sentiment, if I remember right. Wade had broken bread with you, and a

; but I don't admit any sentiment of hospitality which compels me to save a known criminal from the hand of justice. Sheriff Thomas came in to see me last night and I agreed with him that Wade should be brought to account for his con

it all belongs to you, Senator." Moran tenderly fingered his aching wrist.

han Wade is. He pulled Santry out of jail, and we tried to steal his ranch. The only difference is th

e past; and doubtless for this reason he was the less able to treat failure philosophically. His plans at the ranch house had gone awry. He had counted on meeting Wade there in the daytime, in the op

fluttered about. A cloud of fragrant smoke from his cigar trailed him as he walked, and from the way he chewed on the tobacco his confrères in the Senate could have guessed that he was l

send a telegram to the Department of the Interior which will bring a troop of cavalry down here f

employer, wagging a ponderous f

this, but he said nothing. "When you and Sheriff Thomas went out to the ranch, you carried two warrants with you, one for Santry, as the accessory, and one for Wade, as the principal

ran, delighted at the prospect of w

ve the other warrant on Wade when he came home. It was because of his knowledge of what was in store for him that Wade, after getting Santry out of jail, attacked you and your men, and it

miration, as the latter concluded

m, "you never should have started in Denver. If you'd been born in little old New York, you'd be in the

Secretary of the Interior and my signature on it should get immediate att

ss?" Moran asked, anxiously. "Will they sen

is hand in dismissa

thin easy reach. The State will be glad enough to be saved the expense, especially with the soldiers close by at Fort Mackenzie. Bes

m. Whirling about, he found her standing in the doorway looking at him. Rexhill had never before been physically conscious of the fact that he had a spine, but in that moment of discovery a chill crept up and down his back, for her expression told him that she had heard a good dea

the

you awake

and natural, as he stood up and wrappe

t you said t

night-dress, and dropped into a chair. She seemed to feel that her stateme

were discussing private business matters, and I t

mself. He avoided the keen appraisement of her gaze, which seemed now to size him up, as though

aid, in a hard voice, "but I am very glad that I listened, father. Glad"-her voic

eavy hands on her shoulders,

d I'm the only father you have, so we ought to make the best of each other, ought

m, leaning for support against a corner of the bureau,-"I heard all that you said to Mr. Moran.

, touched to the quick at

to explain it

ntinue to believe that you are-that you are-Oh, you know what I want to say." Rexhill blushed a deep purple,

e Sheriff. You know, too"-the blush faded as the Senator caught his stride again-"that

reath of aggression. "Do you believe that he killed Jensen? O

he plan

n the warrants, too? The warrant that hasn't been issued yet, although

nd so genially that the very naturalness of his artifice had won the day for him. Men thought that if he had had a guilty conscience, he could not h

gh my influence that the warrant was not issued. Since then Wade, besides insulting me, has proved himself a lawbreaker. I have nothing to do with the consequences of his actions, which rest entirely with him. You have overhear

yield to his will. He was totally unprepared,

to explain, and he had not availed himself of it; he was content to remain convicted in her eyes, or else, which was more likely, he could not clear himself. She realized now that, despite what she had said in pique, only the

l tell it to every one in Crawling Water, if you force me to. I don't want to because, just think wha

ing a little white. "Don't be a fool, Helen. Why, it was o

hed hyst

punished-a little, if he was made a laughing stock, he might be ashamed, and not want to stay here. Now

past he had resolutely refused to use his child in any way to further his own ends, but the present occasion was an emergency, and major surgery is often demanded in a crisis. If she were willing, as she said, to sacrifice him, he felt that he might properly make use of h

ugh was less of an effort now. "Well, doesn't it hold good now as well as

the new note of confidence in his voice, and she waited eagerly f

yesterday of crushing Wade, I meant it and I still mean it. But there are limits to what I want to see

he isn't

. That was why"-he leaned forward, impelled to the falsehood that hung upon his tongue by the desperate necessity of saving himself his daughter's love and respect-"I arranged with Moran to have the boy arrested on such a warrant. He is bound to be arrested"-Rexhill struck the table with his fist-"and if he should need a basis f

the

im, her eyelashes moist with tears

e explanation. I felt that I couldn't have loved you all my life for nothing.

ope

he pain of this must be less than to be engulfed in bankruptcy, or exposure, which would submerge them all. Moreover, he promised himself that if

s time will help my own interests, but since a warrant must be served, anyway,

lly. "Oh, it is all too bad. I wish none

t, anyway, he will feel the pressure before all is done with, and very likely he'll be only too glad to dispose of his ranch and say good-by to Wy

y from here; and that was all I m

cheek tenderly and drew

to her room, a little later, "I saw Miss Purnell on the street

s she da

in amusement, and sh