276

XXIII. AT THE RODEO 289

XXIV. MISSING 296

XXV. LARRY TELLS A BEAR STORY 304

XXVI. THE MAN HUNT 323

XXVII. THE ROUND-UP 329

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE

The rider slewed in the saddle with his whole
attention upon possible pursuit. _Frontispiece_ 33

She drew back as if he had struck her, all the
sparkling eagerness driven from her face. 110

"Drop that gun!" 205

They grappled in silence save for the heavy panting
that evidenced the tension of their efforts. 340

MAVERICKS

CHAPTER I

PHYLLIS

Phyllis leaned against the door-jamb and looked down the long road which
wound up from the valley and lost itself now and again in the land
waves. Miles away she could see a little cloud of dust travelling behind
the microscopic stage, which moved toward her almost as imperceptibly as
the minute-hand of a clock. A bronco was descending the hill trail from
the Flagstaff mine, and its rider announced his coming with song in a
voice young and glad.

"My love has breath o' roses,
O' roses, o' roses,
And cheeks like summer posies
All fresh with morning dew,"

floated the words to her across the sunlit open.

If the girl heard, she heeded not. One might have guessed her a sullen,
silent lass, and would have done her less than justice. For the storm in
her eyes and the curl of the lip were born of a mood and not of habit.
They had to do with the gay vocalist who drew his horse up in front of
her and relaxed into the easy droop of the experienced rider at rest.

"Don't see me, do you?" he asked, smiling.

Her dark, level gaze came round and met his sunniness without response.

"Yes, I see you, Tom Dixon."

"And you don't think you see much then?" he suggested lightly.

She gave him no other answer than the one he found in the rigor of her
straight figure and the flash of her dark eyes.

"Mad at me, Phyl?" Crossing his arms on the pommel of the saddle he
leaned toward her, half coaxing, half teasing.

The girl chose to ignore him and withdrew her gaze to the stage, still
creeping antlike toward the hills.

"My love has breath o' roses,
O' roses, o' roses,"