he
fall round-up, she had not seen so much of him. He rode alone, sometimes
not even asking her to accompany him. These omissions worked no great
hardship on her, for the days had grown hot and the plains dry and dusty,
so that there was not so much enjoyment in riding as formerly. Besides,
she knew the country rather well now, and had no need to depend upon
Masten.

Chavis had severed his connection with the Flying W. He had ridden in to
the ranchhouse some weeks ago, found Ruth sitting on the porch, announced
that he was "quittin'" and wanted his "time." She did not ask him why he
wanted to quit so pleased was she with his decision, but he advanced an
explanation while she counted the money due him.

"Things don't suit me here," he said venomously. "Randerson is too
fresh." He looked at her impudently. "Besides," he added, "he stands in
too well with the boss."

She flushed with indignation. "You wouldn't dare say that to _him_!" she
declared.

He reddened darkly. "Meanin' what he done to Pickett, I reckon," he
sneered. "Well, Randerson will be gettin' his'n some day, too!"

Ruth remembered this conversation, and on a day about a month later when
she had gone riding alone, she saw Randerson at a distance and rode
toward him to tell him, for she had meant to, many times.

Evidently Randerson had seen her, too, for he had already altered his
pony's course when she wheeled hers. When their ponies came to a halt
near each other it was Randerson who spoke first. He looked at her
unsmilingly over his pony's head.

"I was ridin' in to the house to see you, ma'am. I thought you ought to
know. This mornin' the boys found two cows with their hoofs burned, an'
their calves run off."

"Their hoofs burned!" she exclaimed. "Why, who would be so inhuman as to
do that? But I suppose there was a fire somewhere, and it happened that
way."

"There was a fire, all right," he said grimly. "Some one built it, on
purpose. It was rustlers, ma'am. They burned the hoofs of the mothers so
the mothers couldn't follow when they drove their calves off--like any
mother would." He eyed her calmly. "I reckon it was Chavis, ma'am. He's
got a shack down the crick a ways. He's been there ever since you paid
him off. An' this mornin' two of the boys told me they wanted their time.
I was goin' in to get it for them. It's likely they're goin' to join
Chavis."

"Well, let them," she said indignantly. "If they are that kind of men, we
don't wan