as within a
short pace from the big man. She stood erect, rigid, her hands
clenched at her sides; her chin lifted, her eyes flashing with defiant
passion.

Dale smirked at her.

"Peggy Nyland," he said, "you're handin' it to me pretty strong, ain't
you? You'd fight for your brother's life, of course. But I represent
the law here, an' I've got to do my duty. You won't deny that we found
them steers in your brother's corral?"

"No, I can't deny that!" declared the girl passionately. "You found
them there. They were there. But Ben did not put them there. Shall I
tell you who did? It was you! I heard a noise in the corral during
the night--last night! But I--thought it was just our own cattle. And
I did not go out to see.

"Oh, how I wish I had! But Ben didn't put the Double A cattle in the
corral, for Ben was in the house all the time. He went to bed when I
did, and I saw him, sleeping in his bunk, when the noise awakened me!"

The girl stepped closer to Dale, her voice vibrating with scorn and
loathing.

"If you didn't put the steers in our corral, you know who did, Alva
Dale," she went on. "And you know why they were put there! You didn't
do it because you wanted Ben's land--as I've heard you have said; you
did it to get Ben out of the way so that you could punish me!

"If I had told Ben how you have hounded me--how you have insulted me,
Ben would have killed you long ago. Oh, I ought to have told him, but
I was afraid--afraid to bring more trouble to Ben!"

Dale laughed sneeringly as he watched the young man writhe futilely in
the hands of his captors.

"Sounds reasonable--an' dramatic," he said. "It'd do some good, mebbe,
if they was any soft-headed ninnies around that would believe it. But
the law ain't soft-headed. We found them steers in Ben Nyland's
corral--some of them marked with Ben's brand--the Star--blottin' out
the Double A. An' Miss Bransford admits the steers are hers. They
ain't nothin' more to be said."

"Yes, there is, Dale," said Miss Bransford. "It is quite evident there
has been a mistake made. I am willing to believe Peggy Nyland when she
says Ben was asleep in the cabin all night--with her. At any rate, I
don't want any hanging over a few cattle. I want you to let Ben Nyland
go."

Dale wheeled and faced Miss Bransford. His face reddened angrily, but
he managed to smile.

"It's too late, Miss Bransford. The evidence is all in. There's got
to be rules to g