ept--on his terms!"

Then Truedale opened the third envelope and an enclosed letter fell out,
bearing the postmark of the Junction near Pine Cone!

There was a small electric reading lamp on the arm of Truedale's chair;
he turned the light on and, while his face was in shadow, the words
before him stood out illumined.

"Sir--Mister Truedale." The sheriff had evidently been sorely perplexed
as to the proper beginning of the task he had undertaken.

"I send this by old Doc McPherson, not knowing any better way."

(Jim's epistle was nearly innocent of punctuation, his words ran on
almost unbroken and gave the reader some trouble in following.)

Your letter to a certain young person has come and been destroyed
owing to my thinking under the present circumstances, some folks
what don't know about you, better not hear now. I took the letter
to Lone Dome as you set down for me to do meaning to give it to
Nella-Rose like what you said, but she wasn't there. Pete was there
and Marg--she's Nella-Rose's sister, and getting ready to marry
that torn-down scamp Jed Martin which to my way of thinking is
about the best punishment what could be dealt out to him. Pete was
right sober for him and spruced up owing to facts I am now coming
to and when Pete's sober there ain't a more sensible cuss than what
he is nor a gentlemaner. Well, I asked natural like for Nella-Rose
and Marg scrooged up her mouth, knowing full well as how I knew Jed
was second choice for her--but Pete he done tell me that Nella-Rose
had married Burke Lawson and run to safer parts and when I got over
the shock I was certainly thankful for being a sheriff ain't all it
might be when your ideas of justice and liking gets crossed. I
didn't ask any more questions. Peter was sober--he only lies when
he's drunk and not having any wish to rouse Marg I just come away
and burned the letter what you sent. But I've done some thinking on
my own 'count since your letter came and I reckon I've studied the
thing clear on circumstantial evidence which is what I mostly have
to go on in the sticks. I certainly done you a black insult that
day I came upon you and Nella-Rose. I didn't let on, and I never
will, about her being to my place, but no wonder the poor child was
terrible upset when I came in. She had come to me, so I study out,
and found you--stark