this rescue business fine. Another minute and--But what's
the use of worrying? Miss Beulah and I were Johnny-on-the-spot all
right."

Roy said nothing. He could not speak. His lips and cheeks were still
bloodless. By the narrowest margin in the world he had escaped.

Disgustedly the cattleman looked down at Meldrum, who was trying to
curse and weep from pain at the same time.

"Stung you up some, did I? Hm! You ought to be singing hymns because
I didn't let you have it in the haid, which I'd most certainly have
done if you had harmed my friend. Get up, you bully, and stop cursing.
There's a lady here, and you ain't damaged, anyhow."

The eyes of Beaudry met those of Beulah. It seemed to him that her lip
curled contemptuously. She had been witness of his degradation, had
seen him show the white feather. A pulse of shame beat in his throat.

"W-w-what are you doing here?" he asked wretchedly.

Dave answered for her. "Isn't she always on the job when she's needed?
Yore fairy godmother--that's what Miss Beulah Rutherford is. Rode
hell-for-leather down here to haid off that coyote there--and done it,
too. Bumped into me at the water-hole and I hopped on that Blacky
hawss behind her. He brought us in on the jump and Sharp's old
reliable upset Meldrum's apple cart."

Still nursing the tips of his tingling fingers, the ex-convict scowled
venomously at Beulah. "I'll remember that, missie. That's twice
you've interfered with me. I sure will learn you to mind yore own
business."

Dingwell looked steadily at him. "We've heard about enough from you.
Beat it! Hit the trail! Pull yore freight! Light out! _Vamos_!
Git!"

The man-killer glared at him. For a moment he hesitated. He would
have liked to try conclusions with the cattleman to a fighting finish,
but though he had held his own in many a rough-and-tumble fray, he
lacked the unflawed nerve to face this man with the cold gray eye and
the chilled-steel jaw. His fury broke in an impotent curse as he
slouched away.

"I don't understand yet," pursued Roy. "How did Miss Rutherford know
that Meldrum was coming here?"

"Friend Hart rode up to tell Tighe we were here. He met Meldrum close
to the school-house. The kids were playing hide-and-go-seek. One of
them was lying right back of a big rock beside the road. He heard Dan
swear he was coming down to stop yore clock, son. The kid went
straight to teacher soon as the men had ridden off. He t