evening, did bring on a slight fever. Worriment increased this
and, like many men, he was impatient under suffering; so that when his
bell rang sharply, demanding attention, he was in a fair way to require
all that Aunt Sally or any other had to give.

Meanwhile, down at the adobe quarters, other suspicions were rife.

"What is that man doing here, any way? He don't tell his business, and
he's asked a power of questions. He's wormed out of one and another
of us all there is to learn about this ranch, and he hasn't let on a
single thing about himself, except that he's a lawyer from New York.
New York's a big village and all lawyers can lie. I'm bound to sound
that chap before I'm many hours older," said Joe Dean, bringing his
hands down heavily upon the table.

"I know a trick worth two of that. Set mother on him!" cried John
Benton, gayly. "She'll ask more questions to the square inch than
any other human being I ever met, and she'll have all his business,
family history, and present undertakings out of him before he can say
Jack Robinson. Lucky for us she got that itching foot just when she did."

So it was agreed; and thus, primed to the fullest investigation, Aunt
Sally and her curiosity established themselves within their victim's
sickroom. When they emerged from it, at daybreak, the one had been fully
satisfied--with horror; and the ruddy face of the other had grown white
and heartbroken as no single night of watching should have left it.

CHAPTER XI

THE GUEST DEPARTS

"Well, mother! What are you doing, waking me out of my beauty sleep,
this way?"

"Don't speak to me, John Benton. This is no time for fooling. Not till
I've got my breath, knocked out of me by the plumb wickedness of this
world. That I should have lived to hear such things and not died in my
tracks!"

Upon leaving Mr. Hale's sickroom, Aunt Sally had traveled as fast as her
nimble feet could carry her to her son's quarters, in the old mission,
and had burst in upon his slumbers, with a mighty groan.

"What's up?"

"You ought to be, for one thing. There, lie still. I can talk and you
can listen--and you'll need support 'fore I'm through. That man! Oh!
that man!"

"Yes'm. Which one?"

"Shut up. You need spankin' as bad as ever you did. But--John, John!
The vilest wretch that ever trod shoe leather! The best, the generousest,
the noblest--and not here to say a word for his poor self."

"Mother, your remarks seem a little mixed