usness her father's arms were still around her
and the buckboard was in motion. Dusk had come; above her countless stars
flickered in the deep blue of the sky.

"I reckon she's plum shocked," she heard the driver say.

"I don't wonder," returned Langford, and Sheila felt a shiver run over
him. "Great guns!" Sheila wondered at the tone he used. "That man is a
marvel with a pistol! Did you notice how cool he took it?"

"Cool!" The driver laughed. "If you get acquainted with Dakota you'll find
out that he's cool. He's an iceberg, that's what he is!"

"They'll arrest him, I suppose?" queried Langford.

"Arrest him! What for? Didn't he give Blanca his chance? That's why I'm
tellin' you he's cool!"

It was past two o'clock when the buckboard pulled up at the Double R
corral gates and Langford helped Sheila down. She was still pale and
trembling and did not remain downstairs to witness her father's
introduction to Duncan's sister, but went immediately to her room. Sleep
was far from her, however, for she kept dwelling over and over on the odd
fortune which had killed Blanca and allowed Dakota to live, when the
latter's death would have brought to an end the distasteful relationship
which his freakish impulse had forced upon her.

She remembered Dakota's words in the cabin. Was Fate indeed running this
game--if game it might be called?

CHAPTER VI

KINDRED SPIRITS

Looking rather more rugged than when he had arrived at the station at
Lazette two weeks before, his face tanned, but still retaining the smooth,
sleek manner which he had brought with him from the East, David Dowd
Langford sat in a big rocking chair on the lower gallery of the Double R
ranchhouse, mentally appraising Duncan, who was seated near by, his
profile toward Langford.

"So this Ben Doubler has been a thorn in your side?" questioned Langford
softly.

"That's just it," returned Duncan, with an evil smile. "He has been and
still is. And now I'm willing him to you. I don't know when I've been more
tickled over getting rid of a man."

"Well," said Langford, leaning farther back in his chair and clasping his
hands, resting his chin on his thumbs, his lips curving with an ironic
smile, "I suppose I ought to feel extremely grateful to you--especially
since when I was negotiating the purchase of the ranch you didn't hint of
a nester being on the property."

"I didn't sell Doubler to you," said Duncan.

Langford's smile was shallow. "But I g