“Yuh got here, eh?” he said easily. “That’s fine. I was kinda late gettin’ here for my stuff. Where’s all the boys?” “I don’t know,” said June. “I haven’t been here long.” “Uh-huh,” nodded McLeese. “I suppose they’re late gettin’ in. Well, I’ll gather up my stuff and head back for town. Did yuh come out alone?” “Two men brought me,” said June. She didn’t want to tell McLeese anything, because she didn’t trust him. “And went back and left yuh alone, eh? Dirty trick. This is a lonesome place for a girl, Miss Meline. If yuh want us to, we’ll stay until the boys come back.” “No, I’m all right,” said June. “I’m not afraid.” “Uh-huh.” McLeese went past her and entered the kitchen, where she heard him working around. Chuck Bell came over near the table and sat down in a chair. He began rolling a smoke. June was entirely disarmed. She took her hand away from the gun and picked up a magazine. As quick as a flash Bell jerked sidewise out of his chair and secured the gun. He leered at June as he shoved the gun inside the waist-band of his overalls. “All set, Mac,” he called. McLeese came from the kitchen, glanced quickly toward the table and laughed throatily. “That’s better than knockin’ her on the head,” he said. “By golly, she had me worried for a minute. I don’t _sabe_ it yet, but that don’t worry me much. Get a rope, Bell.” Bell walked back to the front door and went out, while McLeese leaned against the table and leered at June. “Smart little lady, eh? Made a awful hit with Old Man Reber, didn’t yuh? Came out here to catch Jack Silver!” McLeese laughed scornfully. Bell came in with the rope and gave it to McLeese, who lost no time in tying June’s hands and feet securely. “Find me a handkerchief or a rag,” he said. “We’d better gag her. Yuh never can tell who might come along. The road is guarded and all that, but we’ll jist play safe.” Bell produced a dirty bandanna handkerchief. “Why don’tcha find out how much she knows, Mac?” he asked. “Whatsa use? Anyway, we’ve got to get goin’, Chuck. Old Man Reber won’t stop to ask many questions.” McLeese twisted the handkerchief, forced June’s teeth apart and tied the gag. As he was finishing the job, Bell examined the gun he had taken from her. Suddenly he cried out: “This is Jack Silver’s gun!” “What’re yuh talkin’ about?” asked McLeese. “I tell yuh it is, Mac! There’s the S carved on the bottom of the handle. I’ve seen it lots of times. Where do you suppose she got it?” McLeese looked at June, who was none too comfortable with the gag between her teeth. “Take that rag out and let her talk,” suggested Bell, but McLeese shook his head. “She’d lie about it, anyway.” He indicated the closed door, where June had locked Silver. “We’ll put her in there, Chuck. Grab her feet.” McLeese grasping her by the shoulders and Chuck Bell taking her feet, they carried her over to the door.