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〃Is that all？〃 said Dunn's voice。 〃And just because you were a dd
fool； or had taken a little too much whisky； you thought〃
〃Steady。 That's just what I said to myself；〃 interrupted Brace coolly；
〃particularly when I saw her that same afternoon in another dress； saying
'Good…by' to the Burnhams； as fresh as a rose and as cold as those snow…
peaks。 Only one thingshe had a ring on her finger she never wore
before； and didn't expect me to see。〃
〃What if she did？ She might have bought it。 I reckon she hasn't to
consult you；〃 broke in Dunn's voice sternly。
〃She didn't buy it；〃 continued Brace quietly。 〃Low gave that Jew
trader a bearskin in exchange for it； and presented it to her。 I found that
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out two days afterwards。 I found out that out of the whole afternoon she
spent less than an hour with the Burnhams。 I found out that she bought a
duster like the disguise the two men saw her in。 I found the yellow dress
she wore that day hanging up in Low's cabinthe place where I saw her
goTHE RENDEZVOUS WHERE SHE MEETS HIM。 Oh； you're
listenin'； are you？ Stop！ SIT DOWN！
〃I discovered it by accident；〃 continued the voice of Brace when all
was again quiet； 〃it was hidden as only a squirrel or an Injin can hide
when they improve upon nature。 When I was satisfied that the girl had
been in the woods； I was determined to find out where she vanished； and
went there again。 Prospecting around； I picked up at the foot of one of the
biggest trees this yer old memorandum…book； with grasses and herbs stuck
in it。 I remembered that I'd heard old Wynn say that Low； like the dd
Digger that he was； collected these herbs； only he pretended it was for
science。 I reckoned the book was his and that he mightn't be far away。 I
lay low and waited。 Bimeby I saw a lizard running down the root。
When he got sight of me he stopped。〃
〃Dn the lizard！ What's that got to do with where she is now？〃
〃Everything。 That lizard had a piece of sugar in his mouth。 Where
did it come from？ I made him drop it； and calculated he'd go back for
more。 He did。 He scooted up that tree and slipped in under some
hanging strips of bark。 I shoved 'em aside； and found an opening to the
hollow where they do their housekeeping。〃
〃But you didn't see her thereand how do you know she is there
now？〃
〃I determined to make it sure。 When she left to…day； I started an hour
ahead of her； and hid myself at the edge of the woods。 An hour after the
coach arrived at Indian Spring； she came there in a brown duster and was
joined by him。 I'd have followed them； but the dd hound has the ears of
a squirrel； and though I was five hundred yards from him he was on his
guard。〃
〃Guard be blessed！ Wasn't you armed？ Why didn't you go for
him？〃 said Dunn； furiously。
〃I reckoned I'd leave that for you；〃 said Brace coolly。 〃If he'd killed
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me； and if he'd even covered me with his rifle； he'd been sure to let
daylight through me at double the distance。 I shouldn't have been any
better off； nor you either。 If I'd killed HIM； it would have been your duty
as sheriff to put me in jail； and I reckon it wouldn't have broken your heart；
Jim Dunn； to have got rid of TWO rivals instead of one。 Hullo！ Where
are you going？〃
〃Going？〃 said Dunn hoarsely。 〃Going to the Carquinez Woods； by
God！ to kill him before her。 I'LL risk it； if you daren't。 Let me succeed；
and you can hang ME and take the girl yourself。〃
〃Sit down； sit down。 Don't be a fool； Jim Dunn！ You wouldn't keep
the saddle a hundred yards。 Did I say I wouldn't help you？ No。 If
you're willing； we'll run the risk together； but it must be in my way。 Hear
me。 I'll drive you down there in a buggy before daylight； and we'll
surprise them in the cabin or as they leave the wood。 But you must come
as if to arrest him for some offensesay； as an escaped Digger from the
Reservation； a dangerous tramp； a destroyer of public property in the
forests； a suspected road agent； or anything to give you the right to hunt
him。 The exposure of him and Nellie； don't you see； must be accidental。
If he resists； kill him on the spot； and nobody'll blame you； if he goes
peaceably with you； and you once get him in Excelsior jail； when the story
gets out that he's taken the belle of Excelsior for his squaw； if you'd the
angels for your posse you couldn't keep the boys from hanging him to the
first tree。 What's that？〃
He walked to the window； and looked out cautiously。
〃If it was the old man coming back and listening；〃 he said； after a
pause； 〃it can't he helped。 He'll hear it soon enough； if he don't suspect
something already。〃
〃Look yer； Brace；〃 broke in Dunn hoarsely。 〃Dd if I understand you
or you me。 That dog Low has got to answer to ME； not to the LAW！
I'll take my risk of killing him； on sight and on the square。 I don't reckon
to handicap myself with a warrant； and I am not going to draw him out
with a lie。 You hear me？ That's me all the time！〃
〃Then you calkilate to go down thar；〃 said Brace contemptuously； 〃yell
out for him and Nellie； and let him line you on a rest from the first tree as
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if you were a grizzly。〃
There was a pause。 〃What's that you were saying just now about a
bearskin he sold？〃 asked Dunn slowly； as if reflecting。
〃He exchanged a bearskin；〃 replied Brace； 〃with a single hole right
over the heart。 He's a dead shot； I tell you。〃
〃Dn his shooting；〃 said Dunn。 〃I'm not thinking of that。 How
long ago did he bring in that bearskin？〃
〃About two weeks； I reckon。 Why？〃
〃Nothing！ Look yer； Brace； you mean wellthar's my hand。 I'll go
down with you there； but not as the sh