loosened up. You see, they was shy of me when I first got
here. To-day the whole deal showed clear to me like a hoof track in soft
ground. Bud Lewis, who's bunked with me, come out an' tried to win me
over to Beasley--soon as Auchincloss dies. I palavered with Bud an' I
wanted to know. But Bud would only say he was goin' along with Jeff an'
others of the outfit. I told him I'd reckon over it an' let him know. He
thinks I'll come round."

"Why--why will these men leave me when--when--Oh, poor uncle! They
bargain on his death. But why--tell me why?"

"Beasley has worked on them--won them over," replied Carmichael, grimly.
"After Al dies the ranch will go to you. Beasley means to have it. He
an' Al was pards once, an' now Beasley has most folks here believin' he
got the short end of thet deal. He'll have papers--shore--an' he'll have
most of the men. So he'll just put you off an' take possession. Thet's
all, Miss Nell, an' you can rely on its bein' true."

"I--I believe you--but I can't believe such--such robbery possible,"
gasped Helen.

"It's simple as two an' two. Possession is law out here. Once Beasley
gets on the ground it's settled. What could you do with no men to fight
for your property?"

"But, surely, some of the men will stay with me?"

"I reckon. But not enough."

"Then I can hire more. The Beeman boys. And Dale would come to help me."

"Dale would come. An' he'd help a heap. I wish he was here," replied
Carmichael, soberly. "But there's no way to get him. He's snowed-up till
May."

"I dare not confide in uncle," said Helen, with agitation. "The shock
might kill him. Then to tell him of the unfaithfulness of his old
men--that would be cruel.... Oh, it can't be so bad as you think."

"I reckon it couldn't be no worse. An'--Miss Nell, there's only one way
to get out of it--an' thet's the way of the West."

"How?" queried Helen, eagerly.

Carmichael lunged himself erect and stood gazing down at her. He seemed
completely detached now from that frank, amiable cowboy of her first
impressions. The redness was totally gone from his face. Something
strange and cold and sure looked out of his eyes.

"I seen Beasley go in the saloon as I rode past. Suppose I go down
there, pick a quarrel with him--an' kill him?"

Helen sat bolt-upright with a cold shock.

"Carmichael! you're not serious?" she exclaimed.

"Serious? I shore am. Thet's the only way, Miss Nell. An' I reckon it's
what Al would want. An' b