“So that’s your game, eh?” he said amusedly. “You’ve got a lot of nerve for a woman. I never knew that pretty women had nerve. That’s how yuh won old man Reber, eh? Pretty girl with plenty nerve. Oh, he’s worth winnin’. He’s got nobody to leave his money to--no relatives. And he’s got plenty money. I heard he had made you a foreman.” Silver threw back his head and laughed. June had a notion to yank the loop tight and choke off that laugh. “You’ll laugh different when I get you to the Two Bar X,” she promised him. He sobered suddenly. “That’s right,” he said quickly. “They don’t like me. But what I’d like to know is what you were doing in this cabin all tied up like that?” “How did you know I was in that cabin?” she retorted. “I didn’t. I saw two men riding away from here, so I came to investigate. Where most men are my enemies, I kinda look at things, yuh know.” “You lie!” Silver’s eyes narrowed with sudden anger. “You know you lie,” said June hotly. “You and your men knew I was going to the Two Bar X today. You had them stop us, and they killed a man--Sam Herd. You had them bring me to this place. That’s how you knew I was here. Now I’m going to take you to the Two Bar X and turn you over to the men. You’re responsible for the death of Sam Herd, and if Park Reber’s men don’t hang you the law will!” Silver turned his head away and stared off across the hills. “Your men won’t be back for quite a while so you don’t need to look for them,” said June. “How far is it to the Two Bar X?” “About three miles,” said Silver slowly. “You better let the hammer down on that gun before yuh mount. Don’t be afraid of that horse--he’s gentle enough. Compadre! Stand still and let the squaw get on.” June managed to get into the saddle without tangling up the rope. She did not dare take her eyes off Silver, and she did not uncock the revolver. June was taking no chances. “Now you take me straight to the Two Bar X ranch,” she ordered, “and don’t try any tricks.” “You are a very, very smart young lady,” he said seriously. “And I am not going to try and trick yuh.” * * * * * About the time that June and Jack Silver were leaving for the Two Bar X ranch, a rider came through the gate of the S Bar P; a rider who swayed down along the fork of his saddle, a limp arm hanging on each side of the horse’s neck. The rider was Harry O’Steen, one of Buck Priest’s men--a red-headed, freckled cowboy; a laughing, rollicking sort of person, whose disposition did much to keep up the morale of the S Bar P. Buck Priest was sitting on the ranchhouse porch talking with “Rowdy” Dow, another of his cowboys, when the horse came in. They could see at a glance that O’Steen had been hurt, and both of them ran down to him. They eased him to the ground and then carried him to the shade of the porch. “Been shot twice,” declared Rowdy. “Gawd A’mighty, he’s all shot to strings!”