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rush。 The dragging rope swung up against the running steer's legs； grew
suddenly taut。 Down went the steer's head； and next moment its feet were
swept from under it as it went heavily to the ground。 Man and horse were
perfect in their team work。 As the supple rider slid from the back of the
pony it ran to the end of the rope and braced itself to keep the animal from
rising。 Bannister leaped on the steer； tie…rope in hand。 Swiftly his deft
hands passed to and fro； making the necessary loops and knots。 Then his
hands went into the air。 The steer was hog…tied。
For a few seconds the judges consulted together。 〃Twenty…nine
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seconds；〃 announced their spokesman； and at the words a great cheer went
up。 Bannister had made his tie in record time。
Impudently the scoundrel sauntered up to the grand stand； bowed
elaborately to Miss Messiter； and perched himself on the fence； where he
might be the observed of all observers。 It was curious； she thought； how
his vanity walked hand in hand with so much power and force。 He was
really extraordinarily strong； but no debutante's self…sufficiency could
have excelled his。 He was so frankly an egotist that it ceased to be a
weakness。
Back in her room at the hotel an hour later Helen paced up and down
under a nervous strain foreign to her temperament。 She was afraid； for the
first time in her life definitely afraid。 This man pitted against her had
deliberately divorced his life from morality。 In him lay no appeal to any
conscience court of last resort。 But the terror of this was not for herself
principally； but for her flying lover。 With his indubitable power； backed by
the unpopularity of the sheepman in this cattle country； the King of the
Bighorn could destroy his cousin if he set himself to do so。 Of this she was
convinced； and her conviction carried a certainty that he had the will as
well as the means。 If he had lacked anything in motive she herself had
supplied one。 For she was afraid that this villain had read her heart。
And as her hand went fluttering to her heart she found small comfort
in the paper lying next it that only a few hours before had brought her joy。
For at any moment a messenger might come in to tell her that the writer of
it had been captured and was to be dealt with summarily in frontier
fashion。 At best her lover and her friend were but fugitives from justice。
Against them were arrayed not only the ruffian followers of their enemy；
but also the lawfully constituted authorities of the county。 Even if they
should escape to…day the net would tighten on them； and they would
eventually be captured。
For the third time since coming to Wyoming Helen found refuge in
tears。
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CHAPTER 17。 RUN TO EARTH
When word came to Denver and the other punchers of the Lazy D that
Reddy had been pressed into service as a guide for the posse that was
pursuing the fugitives they gave vent to their feelings in choice profanity。
〃Now； ain't that like him？ Had to run around like a locoed calf telling
all he knowed and more till Burns ropes him in；〃 commented the disgusted
Missou。
〃Trouble with Reddy is he sets his mouth to working and then goes
away and leaves it；〃 mourned Jim Henson。
〃I'd hate to feel as sore as Reddy will when the boys get through
playing with him after he gets back to the ranch；〃 Denver contributed；
when he had exhausted his vocabulary。
Meanwhile Reddy； unaware of being a cause of offense； was
cheerfully happy in the unexpected honor that had been thrust upon him。
His will was of putty； molded into the opinion of whomever he happened
at the moment to be with。 Just now； with the ironic eye of Sheriff Burns
upon him； he was strong for law enforcement。
〃A feller hadn't ought to be so promiscuous with his hardware。 This
here thing of shooting up citizens don't do Wyoming no good these days。
Capital ain't a…going to come in when such goings…on occur；〃 he sagely
opined； unconsciously parroting the sentiment Burns had just been
instilling into him。
〃That's right； sir。 If that ain't horse sense I don't know any。 You got a
head on you； all right；〃 answered the admiring sheriff。
The flattered Reddy pleaded guilty to being wiser than most men。 〃Jest
because I punch cows ain't any reason why I'm anybody's fool。 I'll show
them smart boys at the Lazy D I don't have to take the dust of any of the
bunch when it comes to using my think tank。〃
〃I would；〃 sympathized Burns。 You bet they'll all be almighty jealous
when they learn how you was chosen out of the whole outfit on this job。〃
All day they rode； and that night camped a few miles from the Lazy D。
Early next morning they hailed a solitary rider as he passed。 The man
turned out to be a cowman； with a small ranch not far from the one owned
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by Miss Messiter。
〃Hello； Henderson！ y'u seen anything of Jim McWilliams and another
fellow riding acrost this way？〃 asked Reddy。
〃Nope；〃 answered the cowman promptly。 But immediately he modified
his statement to add that he had seen two men riding toward Dry Creek a
couple of hours ago。 〃They was going kinder slow。 Looked to me sorter
like one of them was hurt and the other was helping him out；〃 he
volunteered。
The sheriff looked significantly at one of his men and nodded。
〃You didn't recognize the horses； I reckon？〃
〃Come to think of it； one of the ponies did look like Jim's roan。 What's
up； boys？ Anything doing？〃
〃Nothing particular。 We want to see Jim； that's all。 So long。〃
What Henderson had guessed was the truth。 The continuous hard
riding had been too much for Bannister and his wound had opened anew。
They were at the time only a few miles from a shack on Dry Creek； where
the Lazy D punchers sometimes put up。 McWilliams had attended the
wound as best he could； and after a few hours' rest had headed for the
cabi