Eagerly Polly turned toward him. "See anything of Bud Lane?" she queried. "No." Again Jack smiled--this time at the girl's impetuosity. "He'll lose his job with me if he don't call more regular," she said. "Say, Jack, you ain't fergettin' what you promised--to help Bud with the money that you said was comin' in soon, as Dick's share of a speculation you and him was pardners in? I'm powerful anxious to get him away from McKee." Jack had not forgotten the promise, but, alas, under the goading of Mrs. Allen that he should clear off the mortgage on his home, he had used Dick Lane's money for this purpose. In what a mesh of lies and broken promises he was entangling himself! Now he was forced further to deceive trusting little Polly in the matter that was dearest to her heart. "No, Polly, but the fact is--that speculation isn't turning out so well, after all." The disappointed girl turned sadly away, and went out to Mrs. Allen in the kitchen. Jack removed his belt and gun and hung them on the rack by the door. Spying his father at the corral, he called to him to come into the house. "Hello, Jack!" was Allen's greeting as he entered, shaking the younger man's hand. "When did you come over?" "This morning," Allen told him. "Echo's birthday, you know, and the old lady allowed we'd have to be here. Ain't seen you since the weddin'--got things lookin' fine here." Allen slowly surveyed the room. Jack agreed with him with a gesture of assent. A more important topic to him than the furnishing of a room was what had become of Dick Lane. After the wedding ceremony no chance had come to him to speak privately to Allen. The festivities of the wedding had been shortened. Slim had gathered a posse and taken up the trail of the slayers. Jim Allen had joined them. The hazing of Jack, and the hasty departure of the bridal pair on horseback in a shower of corn, shelled and on cob, prevented the two men from meeting. The older man had volunteered no explanation. Jack knew that in his heart Allen did not approve of his actions, but was keeping silent because of his daughter. Jack could restrain himself no longer. "Jim--what happened that night?" he asked brokenly. Allen showed his embarrassment. "Meanin'--" Then he hesitated. "Dick," was all Jack could say. "I seed him. If I hadn't, he'd busted up the weddin' some," was his laconic answer. "Where is he?" Allen relighted his pipe. When he got the smoke drawing freely, he gazed at Jack thoughtfully and answered: "He's gone. Back where he came from--into the desert." Jim puffed slowly and then added: "Looks like you didn't give Dick a square deal." Allen liked his son-in-law, and was going to stand by him, but in Arizona the saying "All's fair in love and war" is not accepted at its face value. "I didn't," acknowledged Jack. "I was desperate at the thought of losing her. She loved me, and had forgotten him--she's happy with me now."