[Illustration: THE RIDER SLEWED IN THE SADDLE WITH HIS WHOLE ATTENTION UPON POSSIBLE PURSUIT. _Frontispiece. Page 33_] MAVERICKS BY WILLIAM MACLEOD RAINE AUTHOR OF WYOMING, RIDGWAY OF MONTANA, BUCKY O'CONNOR, A TEXAS RANGER, ETC. ILLUSTRATIONS BY CLARENCE ROWE GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS NEW YORK 1911 STREET & SMITH 1912 G.W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY TO MY MOTHER "In vain men tell us time can alter Old loves, or make old memories falter." CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. PHYLLIS 9 II. THE NESTER 18 III. CAUGHT RED-HANDED 28 IV. "I'M A RUSTLER AND A THIEF, AM I?" 43 V. AN AIDER AND ABETTOR 53 VI. A GOOD FRIEND 76 VII. A SHOT FROM AMBUSH 84 VIII. MISS GOING-ON-EIGHTEEN 103 IX. PUNISHMENT 117 X. INTO THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY 126 XI. TOM DIXON 144 XII. THE ESCAPE 157 XIII. A MISTAKE 168 XIV. A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION 183 XV. THE BRAND BLOTTER 200 XVI. A WATERSPOUT 214 XVII. THE HOLD-UP 226 XVIII. BRILL HEALY AIRS HIS SENTIMENTS 233 XIX. THE ROAN WITH THE WHITE STOCKINGS 241 XX. YEAGER RIDES TO NOCHES 253 XXI. BREAKING DOWN AN ALIBI 263 XXII. SURRENDER 276 XXIII. AT THE RODEO 289 XXIV. MISSING 296 XXV. LARRY TELLS A BEAR STORY 304 XXVI. THE MAN HUNT 323 XXVII. THE ROUND-UP 329 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE The rider slewed in the saddle with his whole attention upon possible pursuit. _Frontispiece_ 33 She drew back as if he had struck her, all the sparkling eagerness driven from her face. 110 "Drop that gun!" 205 They grappled in silence save for the heavy panting that evidenced the tension of their efforts. 340 MAVERICKS CHAPTER I PHYLLIS