"They'd better be doing something about that murder." "They are; they're going up there in streams to see where the work was done. The coroner's inquest was held yesterday." He grinned. "'Parties came to their death by persons unknown.'" Lize scowled. "It's a wonder they don't charge it up to Ross Cavanagh or some other ranger." "That would be a little too raw, even for this country. They're all feeling gay over this change in the forestry head; but see here, don't you want to get out for a ride? I've got my new machine out here; it rides like silk." "I reckon a hearse is about my kind," she replied, darkly. "If you could take me up to Cavanagh's cabin, I'd go," she added. "I want to see him." "I can take you part way," he instantly declared. "But you'd have to ride a horse the last ten miles." "Couldn't do it, Joe," she sighed. "These last few days I've been about as boneless as an eel. Funny the way a fellow keeps going when he's got something to do that has to be done. I'll tell you what, if you want to take me and Lee up to Sulphur, I'll go ye." "Sure thing. What day?" "Not for a day or two. I'm not quite up to it just now; but by Saturday I'll be saddle-wise again." Joe turned joyously to Lee. "That will be great! Won't you come out for a spin this minute?" For a moment Lee was tempted. Anything to get away from this horrible little den and the people who infested it was her feeling, but she distrusted Gregg, and she knew that every eye in the town would be upon her if she went, and, besides, Ross might return while she was away. "No, not to-day," she replied, finally; but her voice was gentler than it had ever been to him. The young fellow was moved to explain his position to Lize. "You don't think much of me, and I don't blame you. I haven't been much use so far, but I'm going to reform. If I had a girl like Lee Virginia to live up to, I'd make a great citizen. I don't lay my arrest up against Cavanagh. I'm ready to pass that by. And as for this other business--this free-range war in which the old man is mixed up--I want you to know that I'm against it. Dad knows his day is short; that's what makes him so hot. But he's a bluff--just a fussy old bluff. He knows he has no more right to the Government grass than anybody else, but he's going to get ahead of the cattle-men if he can." "Does he know who burned them sheep-herders?"