The masked man pointed out how Tonto's natural abilities made him the logical one to wait in the forest. No white man could maintain the vigil with the absolute silence that was so imperative. On the other hand, the Indian's scant knowledge of white men's laws and courts of law made him a poor one to dictate the sort of statement that must be secured from Bryant Cavendish. The two returned to the proximity of Rangoon and made ready to start riding. "Yuh can't leave me here," the scar-faced outlaw shouted. The Lone Ranger looked at him and said deliberately, "Why not?" "What if I starve, what if I'm et up by animals?" "That," retorted the masked man, "would be easier than the way the Snake Flats homesteaders died when Abe Larkin killed them." Rangoon's eyes went wide at the mention of the name he formerly had used and the people he had killed. "What d'yuh know about them?" he cried. "The law is still keeping a noose ready for Abe Larkin." "Where yuh goin'?" There was panic in Rangoon's voice as he saw the two mount and point their horses toward the Basin. The Lone Ranger said, "Come on, Silver." Rangoon tugged at his ropes, struggled with them until his wrists were almost bleeding. His courage, as darkness fell in the woodland clearing, ebbed until he was reduced to a sniveling, sobbing wretch with scant resemblance to the swaggering monster that had bullied Penelope. "Who," he cried aloud, "who was he? Who in God's name was that masked man with the silver bullets? He called me Abe Larkin. Who in God's name was he?" Somewhere, unseen in the darkness, a crouching Indian grinned. Chapter XV INTRIGUE COMES CLOSER When Penny reached home just after dark, she noticed a peculiarly deserted air about the ranch. Most of the horses belonging to the cowboys were gone from the corral when she turned Las Vegas in. The shack where Becky had lived was dark, and the big house nearly so. There was one lamp burning in the living room, and the kitchen wing was lighted. That was all. The usual bunkhouse sounds of laughter, or murmuring voices against an occasional accordion or guitar background, were not there. Penelope entered by the kitchen door. Gimlet rose to greet her, with anxiety showing in every one of the enumerable lines on his battered old face. "Keee-ripes!" burst out Gimlet. "Where you been?" Penny was somewhat taken aback by the old man's obvious agitation. "What's the matter, Gimlet? Is anything wrong?" "That's jest it, I dunno. It seems like all hell's due tuh bust loose an' yet they ain't a thing I c'n put a finger on. They's things bilin' up, I tell yuh. I was scared damn near tuh death somethin'd happened tuh you." "But why?" "Yuh sure everything's all right with yuh? Yuh ain't met with no trouble?" "What kind of trouble? Where is everyone?" "I dunno what kind, jest trouble. Trouble like bein' shot at, or like havin' threats made at yuh."