e that if we can get Doubler revived he can tell who
did shoot him. Do you want to know the truth? I heard you say a while ago,
while I was standing at the window, looking in at your father giving a
demonstration of his love for you, that you intended going over to
Doubler's shack to nurse him. If you're still of the same mind, I'll take
you over there."

Sheila was at the door in an instant, but halted on the threshold to
listen to Dakota's parting word to Langford.

"Mister man," he said enigmatically, "there's just one thing that I want
to say to you. There's a day coming when you'll think thoughts--plenty of
them."

In a flash he had stepped outside the door and closed it after him.

A few minutes later, still standing beside the desk, Langford heard the
rapid beat of hoofs on the hard sand of the corral yard. Faint they
became, and their rhythmic beat faster, until they died away entirely. But
Dakota's words still lingered in Langford's mind, and it seemed to him
that they conveyed a prophecy.

CHAPTER XV

THE PARTING ON THE RIVER TRAIL

"I'll be leaving you now, ma'am." There was a good moon, and its mellow
light streamed full into Dakota's grim, travel-stained face as he halted
his pony on the crest of a slope above the Two Forks and pointed out a
light that glimmered weakly through the trees on a level some distance on
the other side of the river.

"There's Doubler's cabin--where you see that light," he continued,
speaking to Sheila in a low voice. "You've been there before, and you
won't get lost going the rest of the way alone. Do what you can for
Doubler. I'm going down to my shack. I've done a heap of riding to-day,
and I don't feel exactly like I want to keep going on, unless it's
important. Besides, maybe Doubler will get along a whole lot better if I
don't hang around there. At least, he'll do as well."

Sheila had turned her head from him. He was exhibiting a perfectly natural
aversion toward visiting the man he had nearly killed, she assured herself
with a shudder, and she felt no pity for him. He had done her a service,
however, in appearing at the Double R at a most opportune time, and she
was grateful. Therefore she lingered, finding it hard to choose words.

"I am sorry," she finally said.

"Thank you." He maneuvered his pony until the moonlight streamed in her
face. "I reckon you've got the same notion as your father--that I shot
Doubler?" he said, watching her narrowly. "You a