u knew
just to hurt Hull or because of your own guilt."

"Still, I don't see how you're sure yet. I might 'a' gone in by the
window an' gunned Cunningham like you said."

"Yes, you might have, but you didn't. I'm not goin' to have you
arrested, Olson, but I want you to stay in Denver for a day or two
until this is settled. We may need you as a witness. It won't be
long. I'll see your expenses are paid while you're here."

"I'm free to come an' go as I please?"

"Absolutely." Kirby looked at him with level eyes. He spoke quite as
a matter of course. "You're no fool, Olson. You wouldn't stir up
suspicion against yourself again by runnin' away now, after I tell you
that my eye is on the one that did it."

The Swede started. "You mean--now?"

"Not this very minute," Kirby laughed. "I mean I've got the person
spotted, at least I think I have. I've made a lot of mistakes since I
started roundin' up this fellow with the brand of Cain. Maybe I'm
makin' another. But I've a hunch that I'm ridin' herd on the right one
this time."

He rose. Olson took the hint. He would have liked to ask some
questions, for his mind was filled with a burning curiosity. But his
host's manner did not invite them. The rancher left.

Up and down his room Kirby paced a beat from the window to the door and
back again. His mind was busy dissecting, analyzing, classifying.
Some one had once remarked that he had a single-track mind. In one
sense he had. The habit of it was to follow a train of thought to its
logical conclusion. He did not hop from one thing to another
inconsequently.

Just now his brain was working on his cousin James. He went back to
the first day of his arrival in Denver and sifted the evidence for and
against him. A stream of details, fugitive impressions, and mental
reactions flooded through.

For one of so cold a temperament James had been distinctly friendly to
him. He had gone out of his way to find bond for him when he had been
arrested. He had tried to smooth over difficulties between him and
Jack. But Kirby, against his desire, found practical reasons of policy
to explain these overtures. James had known he would soon be released
through the efforts of other cattlemen. He had stepped in to win the
Wyoming cousin's confidence in order that he might prove an asset
rather than a liability to his cause. The oil broker had readily
agreed to protect Esther McLean from publicity, but the reason