capture. As a trailer McFann had few equals, and he knew every
swale in the prairie and every nook in the mountains on the reservation.

Talpers brought out a bottle, which McFann seized eagerly.

"There's plenty more in the pack," said the trader, "so drink all you
want. Don't offer me none, as I am kind o' taperin' off."

"Did you see any Indian police on the way?" asked the half-breed.

"No--nothin' but Wolfer Joe's wagon, 'way off in the hills. I guess the
police ain't lookin' for you very hard. That ain't the fault of the
agent, though," added Talpers meaningly. "He's promised he'll have you
back in Tom Redmond's hands in less'n a week."

The half-breed scowled and muttered an oath as he took another drink.
Talpers had told the lie in order to rouse McFann's antagonism toward
Lowell, and he was pleased to see that his statement had been accepted
at face value.

"But that ain't the worst for you, nor for me either," went on the
trader. "That girl at the Greek Letter Ranch knows that you and me took
the watch from the man on the Dollar Sign road."

"How did she know that?" exclaimed McFann in amazement.

"That's somethin' she won't tell, but she knows that you and me was
there, and that the story you told in court ain't straight. I'm
satisfied she ain't told any one else--not yet."

"Do you think she will tell any one?"

"I'm sure of it. You see, she sorter sprung this thing on me when I was
havin' a little argyment about her marryin' me. She got spiteful and
come at me with the statement that the watch I was wearin' belonged to
that feller Sargent."

Bill did not add anything about the money. It was not going to do to let
the half-breed know he had been defrauded.

McFann squatted by the fire, the bottle in his hand and his gaze on
Talpers's face.

"She mentioned both of us bein' there," went on the trader. "She give
the details in a way that I'll admit took me off my feet. It's an
awkward matter--in fact, it's a hangin' matter--for both of us, if she
tells. You know how clost they was to lynchin' you, over there at White
Lodge, with nothin' so very strong against you. If that gang ever hears
about us and this watch of Sargent's, we'll be hung on the same tree."

Talpers played heavily on the lynching, because he knew the fear of the
mob had become an obsession with McFann. He noticed the half-breed's
growing uneasiness, and played his big card.

"I spent a long time thinkin' the hull thing over," s