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others of the outfit。 I told him I'd reckon over it an' let
him know。 He thinks I'll come round。〃
〃Why why will these men leave me when when Oh； poor
uncle！ They bargain on his death。 But why tell me why？〃
〃Beasley has worked on them won them over；〃 replied
Carmichael； grimly。 〃After Al dies the ranch will go to you。
Beasley means to have it。 He an' Al was pards once； an' now
Beasley has most folks here believin' he got the short end
of thet deal。 He'll have papers shore an' he'll have
most of the men。 So he'll just put you off an' take
possession。 Thet's all； Miss Nell； an' you can rely on its
bein' true。〃
〃I I believe you but I can't believe such such
robbery possible；〃 gasped Helen。
〃It's simple as two an' two。 Possession is law out here。
Once Beasley gets on the ground it's settled。 What could you
do with no men to fight for your property？〃
〃But； surely； some of the men will stay with me？〃
〃I reckon。 But not enough。〃
〃Then I can hire more。 The Beeman boys。 And Dale would come
to help me。〃
〃Dale would come。 An' he'd help a heap。 I wish he was here；〃
replied Carmichael； soberly。 〃But there's no way to get him。
He's snowed…up till May。〃
〃I dare not confide in uncle；〃 said Helen； with agitation。
〃The shock might kill him。 Then to tell him of the
unfaithfulness of his old men that would be cruel。 。 。 。
Oh； it can't be so bad as you think。〃
〃I reckon it couldn't be no worse。 An' Miss Nell； there's
only one way to get out of it an' thet's the way of the
West。〃
〃How？〃 queried Helen； eagerly。
Carmichael lunged himself erect and stood gazing down at
her。 He seemed completely detached now from that frank；
amiable cowboy of her first impressions。 The redness was
totally gone from his face。 Something strange and cold and
sure looked out of his eyes。
〃I seen Beasley go in the saloon as I rode past。 Suppose I
go down there； pick a quarrel with him an' kill him？〃
Helen sat bolt…upright with a cold shock。
〃Carmichael！ you're not serious？〃 she exclaimed。
〃Serious？ I shore am。 Thet's the only way； Miss Nell。 An' I
reckon it's what Al would want。 An' between you an' me it
would be easier than ropin' a calf。 These fellars round Pine
don't savvy guns。 Now； I come from where guns mean
somethin'。 An' when I tell you I can throw a gun slick an'
fast； why I shore ain't braggin'。 You needn't worry none
about me； Miss Nell。〃
Helen grasped that he had taken the signs of her shocked
sensibility to mean she feared for his life。 But what had
sickened her was the mere idea of bloodshed in her behalf。
〃You'd kill Beasley just because there are rumors of
his treachery？〃 gasped Helen。
〃Shore。 It'll have to be done； anyhow；〃 replied the cowboy。
〃No！ No！ It's too dreadful to think of。 Why； that would be
murder。 I I can't understand how you speak of it so
so calmly。〃
〃Reckon I ain't doin' it calmly。 I'm as mad as hell；〃 said
Carmichael； with a reckless smile。
〃Oh； if you are serious then； I say no no no！ I forbid
you。 I don't believe I'll be robbed of my property。〃
〃Wal； supposin' Beasley does put you off an' takes
possession。 What 're you goin' to say then？〃 demanded the
cowboy； in slow； cool deliberation。
〃I'd say the same then as now；〃 she replied。
He bent his head thoughtfully while his red hands smoothed
his sombrero。
〃Shore you girls haven't been West very long；〃 be muttered；
as if apologizing for them。 〃An' I reckon it takes time to
learn the ways of a country。〃
〃West or no West； I won't have fights deliberately picked；
and men shot； even if they do threaten me；〃 declared Helen；
positively。
〃All right； Miss Nell； shore I respect your wishes；〃 he
returned。 〃But I'll tell you this。 If Beasley turns you an'
Bo out of your home wal； I'll look him up on my own
account。〃
Helen could only gaze at him as he backed to the door； and
she thrilled and shuddered at what seemed his loyalty to
her； his love for Bo； and that which was inevitable in
himself。
〃Reckon you might save us all some trouble now if you'd
just get mad an' let me go after thet greaser。〃
〃Greaser！ Do you mean Beasley？〃
〃Shore。 He's a half…breed。 He was born in Magdalena； where I
heard folks say nary one of his parents was no good。〃
〃That doesn't matter。 I'm thinking of humanity of law and
order。 Of what is right。〃
〃Wal； Miss Nell； I'll wait till you get real mad or till
Beasley 〃
〃But； my friend； I'll not get mad；〃 interrupted Helen。 〃I'll
keep my temper。〃
〃I'll bet you don't；〃 he retorted。 〃Mebbe you think you've
none of Bo in you。 But I'll bet you could get so mad once
you started thet you'd be turrible。 What 've you got them
eyes for； Miss Nell； if you ain't an Auchincloss ？〃
He was smiling； yet he meant every word。 Helen felt the
truth as something she feared。
〃Las Vegas； I won't bet。 But you you will always come to
me first if there's trouble。〃
〃I promise；〃 he replied； soberly； and then went out。
Helen found that she was trembling； and that there was a
commotion in her breast。 Carmichael had frightened her。 No
longer did she hold doubt of the gravity of the situation。
She had seen Beasley often； several times close at hand； and
once she had been forced to meet him。 That time had
convinced her that he had evinced personal interest in her。
And on this account； coupled with the fact that Riggs
appeared to have nothing else to do but shadow her； she had
been slow in developing her intention of organizing and
teaching a school for the children of Pine。 Riggs had become
rather a doubtful celebrity in the settlements。 Yet his
bold； apparent badness had made its impression。 From all
reports he spent his time gambling； drinking； and bragging。
It was no longer news in Pine what his intentions were
toward Helen Rayner。 Twice he had ridden up to the
ranch…house； upon one occasion securing an interview with
Helen。 In spite of her contempt and indifference； he was
actually influencing her life there in Pine。 And it began to
appear that the other man； Beasley； might soon direct
stronger significance upon the liberty of her actions。
The responsibility of the ranch had turned out to be a heavy
burden。 It could not be managed； at least by her； in the way
Auchincloss wanted it done。 He was old； irritable；
irrational； and hard。 Almost all the neighbors were set
against him； and naturally did not take kindly to Helen。
She had not found the slightest evidence of unfair dealing
on the part of her uncle； but he had been a hard driver。
Then his shrewd； far…seeing judgment had made all his deals
fortunate for him； which fact had not brought a profit of
friendship。
Of late； since Auchincloss had grown weaker and less
dominating； Helen had taken many decisions upon herself；
with gratifying and hopeful results。 But the wonderful
happiness that she had expected to find in the West still
held aloof。 The memory of Paradise Park seemed only a dream；
sweeter and more intangible as time passed； and fuller of
vague regrets。 Bo was a comfort； but also a very
considerable source of anxiety。 She might have been