The Range Boss

sten included-that Vickers had not talked extravagantly in recommending Randerson. Uncle Jepson declared tha

loose again to roam the range during the summer; the corral fences were repaired, new irrigation ditches were laid, others extended-th

emed to have work enough to keep their time fully employed. Nor did Masten accompany them very often. He seemed to take a new interest in Ruth; he found variou

ted that the men seemed to like him-they called him "Rex," and in other ways exhibited their satisfaction over his coming. Several times she had observed meetings between him and Chavis and Pickett; invariably Chavis was sullen an

s time with the outfit. But he came in one afternoon, after Ruth's friendship with Hagar Catherson

Hagar was attired this afternoon in a dark-blue riding habit, with short skirt-shortened by Aunt Martha-riding boots, a waist with a low collar and a flowing tie, and a soft hat that Ruth had re-made for her. She had received lessons in hair-dre

ng her. She had given the girl a trinket that had long been coveted by her, and Hagar's eyes were bright with delight as she

recognized her, took possession of her-for she had known him long and he had been

ment and recognition in his eyes. Then he took a quick step forward and se

he said, wonder in his voice. "Hav

ing here; Ruth could not

ss ain't what it ought to be where we've been, an' tomorrow we're drivin' past here to go down the river." He was still holding Hagar's hands, and now he seemed to realize that perhaps he had been too effusive, and he flushed and dropped the

Hagar. And with another smile at Ruth she

a queer sensation of resentment in her breast over this exhibition of friendship; she had never thought of them knowing each other. She smiled a

erd toward the river and drove it past the ranchhouse and into a grass level that stretched for miles. It was near noon when the chuck wagon came to a halt near th

were grotesque, their gestures extravagant, their talk high-pitched and flavored with a dialect that Ruth had never heard. They were "showing off"; the girl knew that. But she also knew that in their actions

front of the messhouse, talking seriously, and a cloud came over her face. These two men were not light-hearted as the others. What was

had ridden away toward the river some time before-he had seemed to ride toward the break in the canyon

nd some time later, when the laughter ceased and she went to the window and looked out, the cowboys had vanished. They h

f the coming of the remuda she had thought it best to take her pony from the corral, for she feared that

pony's head for some time, watching it. Just as she was about to turn to leave the stable, she felt the interior dar

r from the direction of the bunkhouse, and felt reassured. But while she stood, she heard the sounds of the laughter growing g

in her fears and that Pickett would go away. But Pickett did not move. Glancing at him furtively, she saw that the grin was still on his face and th

u wanted to talk to me abou

ed slightly hoarse, "I've got a letter here which I want

hand a paper that he held out to her. And now, in her relief over her discovery that his inten

" she said; "open

e away from him. His fingers slipped from her wrist, the nails scratching the flesh deeply, and she sprang toward the door. But he was upon her instantly, his arms around her, pinning her own to her sides, and then he squeezed

t you're

his intentions, he released her, laug

ath coming in great gasps. But a few minutes later she was in her room in the ranchhouse, on her bed, her face in the

a chair in the sitting-room, looking very

took a few steps and stood in f

Ruth hid her face in he

looked back at Ruth, and a slight smile, almost a sneer, crossed his face. But when he t

said, que

, came upon Ruth in the stable and abused her shamefully. He actually kissed her-th

st in dread, for the explosion that she

disappointed. There was a long silence, during which Masten cleared his throat three

hing Mr. Masten? Such a thing

th can I do? You don't expect me to go out

ice, "but he would know that Ruth was engaged to a man!"

honor to fight for their women. But it

o out there and allow Pickett to kill me than there is a reason why I should go to the first railroad, lay my

ored with sarcasm. Masten turned abruptly from her and went in to Ruth. Her face w

oward the stable, and then he laid a hand

have Randerson discharge him? He is range boss, you know. In the meantime, can't you manage to stay aw

ow, talking seriously to Chavis, and she imagined he was telling Chavis about the attack. Of course, she thought

was standing near the kitchen table. Randerson was standing close to her, facing her, dwarfing her, his face white beneath the deep tan upon it, his lips straight and hard, his eyes narrowed, h

ir attitudes kept her from revealing hersel

cold within her, for in it was contempt, intolerance, rage suppressed-she felt that

or. Ruth heard him open it; he must have been standing on the threshol

Calamity, aunty. There ain't no mud there any more; Willard would

ing a deprecatory finger at him. "Your manners have been neglected." But Aunt

when she had looked at him. It seemed to have passed. His, "I reckon I'll be seein' Pickett," meant, perhaps,

re was something strange in his actions. He seemed to be waiting for something, or somebody. Occasionally he leaned against the corner of the bu

ed in front of the bunkhouse; saw Pickett's right hand fall to his side as though it r

t Uncle Jepson seemed to say something to him. She could not, of course, hear the words, "Look out

continued

n seemed to be speaking, to Pickett; the latter had faced him. Then, as she breathlessly watched, she saw Pickett

eeled and fell sideways to the ground, close to the wall of the bunkhouse. She heard him curse; saw him reach again for the gun at his hip. The toe of Randerson's right boot struck Pickett's hand, driving i

the other men followed-Ruth saw Masten and Chavis come out of the bunkhouse door and follow also. The thought struck her that they must have witnessed the incident from a window. She saw them all, the cowboys at a respectable distance, P

her, sharp, cold, commanding. Evidently he was speaking to

Ruth to c

the rear, looking on, Pickett near the edge of the porch, his face bloated with impotent rage, his eyes glaring; the grim figure that Randerson made as he st

but so burdened with passion that it seemed to vibrate i

you're never goin' to play

enough, did not seem to feel his disgrace keenly enough. For though he twisted and squirmed under the threat in Randerson's voice, there was an odd smirk

done what I

, Pickett. You draw

ed slightly sidewise to Pickett, evide

ly at Pickett's movement. There was a single rapid movement to his right hip, the twilight was split by a red streak, by another that followed it so closely as to seem to

the thing that lay almost at her feet. And then someone took her by the arm-she thought it was Uncle Jepson-and she was led

. Randerson was pointing to Pickett's body, ghastl

at moment. For there was a dead silence while one might

was split b