He lowered Ruth from the saddle and she ran to her father. Clint swung down and caught her into his arms with a sound in his throat that was like a dry sob. He murmured broken endearments while he fondled her. “Oh, daddy, my daddy!” Ruth wailed. Betty swung from the saddle and ran to them. Clint passed the child to her. They clung together, Betty crooning little love words of happiness. “Ruthie--Ruthie--darling--precious!” Between hugs and kisses Ruth explained. “A bad man tooked me ’way ’way off on a horse ’n’ we rode ’n’ we rode. ’Nen anuvver man comed ’n’ said he’d bring me home, ’n’ he did bring me, the nice man did.” Reed strode across the road to the man who had brought back his child. “I’ll hear your story, Black,” he said sternly. “I don’t reckon I’ve got any story to tell, Clint--none in particular. She was lost. I found her an’ brought her back. Ain’t that enough?” “No. Where did you find her? Who took her?” “Nothin’ doing on that witness-stand stuff,” the other answered. “Jake Prowers an’ me was lookin’ for strays up on Elk Creek when we found her. Jake told me to tell you here she was with his compliments. That’s all I know.” “You and Jake found her?” “Yessir. Didn’t I tell you that twict?” “Was she alone?” “There was a guy with her, but I didn’t know him. He lit out.” “What kind of lookin’ fellow?” “Why, I didn’t see him right close.” The quid of tobacco stuck out in the homesteader’s cheek. He watched Reed closely, jaws motionless. “You’re not a good liar, Black. You know a lot more than you’re telling,” the owner of the Diamond Bar K accused. “I’m gonna have it out of you, man, if I have to tear it from your throat.” Black’s figure stiffened. “Try any funny business with me, an’ I’ll show you where to head in at, Clint,” he said quietly. “Why don’t you ask the kid?” Forbes said in an aside to his employer. “Black didn’t steal her. A blind man could see that.” “He knows who did.” “Sure, an’ he’s hell-bent not to tell. You won’t get it outa him. I know Don.” “It’s some of Jake Prowers’s work.” “I don’t think it, Clint.” The foreman turned to Ruth. “Who was it took you outa the automobile, honey?” “A man. He was gonna whip me wiv a great big stick, like he said Daddy did him.” “What? Whip you, like--” Lon stopped to wrestle with and overthrow a thought. “Why, dog-gone my hide, it’s that tramp Daniels has been lookin’ for.” Clint fired questions at Black like shots out of a machine gun. “Was he a small man? Lean? Town clothes? Talk outa the corner of his mouth? A rat-faced fellow? Fingers cigarette-stained?” Black shook his head. “You’ve sure enough got me there, Clint. I only seen him at a distance, but seemed like he was a big husky guy. Yes, I’m ’most sure he was. Big as the side of a barn.” “Did he seem big to you, Ruthie?” Lon asked gently. “Umpha!” She nodded her head vigorously. “He was a nawful man, ’n’ he said he’d whip me like Daddy did him.”