hrug, paused. She would not
be ungracious: "To pick up a few things," she answered unconcernedly.

Bill, not satisfied, felt obliged to desist. "Startin' airly," was his
only grumble. Had he known what possibilities for that day had lodged
themselves in Kate's mind, he would not have been able to slip Spider
Legs' bridle over his ears. But his business being only to get up the
horse, he discharged it with shaky fidelity and for himself started
with high expectations for town. Had he been given to speculating on
the variableness of woman, he might have found a text in Spider Legs'
standing for hours after he was made ready. And in the end his
mistress unsaddled him and turned him back into the corral.

The truth was, Kate had been seized with cruel fits of doubt and for a
long time could not decide whether she ought to go to town or not. But
as often as she gave up the idea of going, a heart-strong impulse
pleaded against her uneasy restraint. She felt she _must_ go.

CHAPTER XXIX

HORSEHEAD PASS

Bradley had not been able to tell her just when the funeral was set
for. But it surged in Kate's heart that after what Abe Hawk had done
for her, to let the poor, bullet-torn, neglected body be put into the
ground without some effort to pay a tribute of gratitude to the man
that had once animated it, would be on her part fearfully cold.

The difficulties of the situation were many. She feared the anger of
her father, and owed his feelings something as well. But every time
she decided she ought to stay at home, the pricking at her heart grew
keener. In the end, her feelings overrode her restraint. She resolved
at least to go to town. The funeral might have already taken place--it
would be a relief even to learn more about his death.

Late in the afternoon, she got Spider Legs up again, saddled him and,
telling Kelly she might not be back that night, rode away.

It was dark by the time she reached town and leaving her horse with
McAlpin she crossed the street from the barn and walked hurriedly
around the corner to Belle's. The front door stood open and the
red-shaded lamp burned low on the dining-room table.

Tapping on the screen door, Kate, without waiting for Belle to answer,
opened it and went in. There was no light in the living-room and the
portieres were drawn. She walked down the hall to the dining-room,
where she laid down her gloves and took off her coat and hat.
Smoothing her hair, she