ailroad building,
made money, lost it, and went into cattle.

"Two men here know this story. I'm one; the other is Harry Van Horn.
He lived in the Hills when this happened. He wouldn't tell because he
wanted Kate.

"Jim, if Van Horn comes in alive, he'll be tried for this job on Barb.
He'll plead self-defense and spring the Black Hills story. Van Horn
has done his best to kill you and hired Stone to do it. You and Kate
ought to know why. It's up to you whether he comes in alive and
blackens her father's name to get even with both of you. Now start
along, Jim--that's all."

Laramie did not rise.

For himself he cared nothing. But he cared for Kate. And though she
had little reason to care for her father, and the tragedy of a record
such as his was not a pleasant memory for any daughter; how much more
would she suffer if his record were exposed by one whose interest it
would be to blacken it?

"I said that was all," continued Carpy; "it ain't quite all, either.
Van Horn will swear everything in this Falling Wall raid on old Barb to
make feeling against him--it'll be a mess."

Laramie's eyes were fixed on the floor. When he raised them he spoke
thoughtfully: "I see what you mean, Doctor. I'll talk plain, too--as
you'd want me to, I know. No one can tell till it's over how a man
hunt is going to work out. But whatever my feelings are, there's
something else I've got to think about. You're leaving it out. No
matter what stories have been told about me, my record up to this, is
clear. I've never in my life shot down a man except in self-defense.
I couldn't begin by doing it now. You know what I've stood from these
cattlemen in the last year----"

"Why," demanded Carpy, "did you do it?"

"Why did Kate Doubleday shun me like a man with the smallpox? Because
they put it up to her I was a man-killer. When they couldn't make me
out a rustler, they made me out a gambler. When they couldn't make me
out a thief, they made me out a gunman. I had a fine reputation to
live down; and all of it from her own father and his friends--what
could you expect a girl to do?

"I won out against the bunch. I couldn't have done it without playing
straight. It's too late for me to switch my game now. I'd hate to see
more grief heaped on Kate. And Van Horn doesn't deserve any show. But
if his hands go up--though I never expect to see Harry Van Horn's hands
over his head--I can't do it, Doctor, that's all there is t