s my fault for letting you get anything on me--I ought to
have known that you'd try some dog's trick or other."

His voice was coming rapidly, sharply, and was burdened with a lashing
sarcasm. "Yes, it's a right clever scheme, Mister Langford, and it ought
to be successful. But there's one thing you've forgot. I've lived too long
in this country to let anyone tangle me up like you'd like to have me.
When a man gets double crossed in this country, he can't go to the law for
redress--he makes his own laws. I'm making mine. You've double crossed me,
and damn your hide, I'm going to send you over the divide in a hurry!"

One of his heavy revolvers leaped from its holster and showed for an
instant in his right hand. Sheila had been watching closely, forewarned by
Dakota's manner, and when she saw his right hand drop to the holster she
sprang upon him, catching the weapon by the muzzle.

Langford had covered his face with his hands, and stood beside the desk,
trembling, and Sheila cried aloud in protest when she saw Dakota draw the
weapon that swung at his other hip, holding her off with the hand which
she had seized. But when Dakota saw Langford's hands go to his face he
hesitated, smiling scornfully. He turned to Sheila, looking down at her
face close to his, his smile softening.

"I forgot," he said gently; "I forgot he is your father."

"It isn't that," she said. "He isn't my father, any more. But--" she
looked at Dakota pleadingly--"please don't shoot him. Go--leave the
country. You have plenty of time. You have enough to answer for. Please
go!"

For answer he grasped her by the shoulders, swinging her around so that
she faced him,--as he had forced her to face him that day on the river
trail--and there was a regretful, admiring gleam in his eyes.

"You told him--" he jerked a thumb toward Langford--"that you wouldn't
bear witness against me. I heard you. You're a true blue girl, and your
father's a fool or he wouldn't lose you, like he is going to lose you. If
I had you I would take mighty good care that you didn't get away from me.
You've given me some mighty good advice, and I would act on it if I was
guilty of shooting Doubler. But I didn't shoot him--your father and Duncan
have framed up on me. Doubler isn't dead yet, and so I'm not running away.
If Doubler had someone to nurse him, he might--" He hesitated and looked
at her with a strange smile. "You think I shot Doubler, too, don't you?
Well, there's a chanc