g by the newspaper they had been here within a few
hours. The time of sending the special delivery letter made this the more
probable. He had missed the men he wanted by a very little time. If he had
had the gumption to understand the hints given by the letters Cullison
might now be eating supper with his family at the hotel.

"Make anything out of it?" the older Flandrau asked.

"He's been here, but they've taken him away. Will you cover the
telephoning? Have all the ranches notified that Luck is being taken into
the hills so they can picket the trails."

"How do you know he is being taken there?"

"I don't know. I guess. Blackwell is in it. He knows every nook of the
hills. The party left here not two hours since, looks like."

Curly put the newspaper in his pocket and led the Way back to the store.

"The birds have flown, Dick, Made their getaway through the alley late
this afternoon, probably just after it got dark." He turned to the woman.
"Mrs. Wylie, murder is going to be done, I shouldn't wonder. And you're
liable to be held guilty of it unless you tell us all you know."

She began to weep, helplessly, but with a sort of stubbornness too.
Frightened she certainly was, but some greater fear held her silent as to
the secret. "I don't know anything about it," she repeated over and over.

"Won't do. You've got to speak. A man's life hangs on it."

But his resolution could not break hers, incomparably stronger than she
though he was. Her conscience had driven her to send veiled warnings to
the sheriff. But for very fear of her life she dared not commit herself
openly.

Maloney had an inspiration. He spoke in a low voice to Curly. "Let's take
her to the hotel. Miss Kate will know how to get it out of her better than
we can."

Mrs. Wylie went with them quietly enough. She was shaken with fears but
still resolute not to speak. They might send her to prison. She would tell
them nothing--nothing at all. For someone who had made terror the habit of
her life had put the fear of death into her soul.

CHAPTER VIII

A MESSAGE IN CIPHER

While Kate listened to what Curly had to tell her the dark eyes of the
girl were fastened upon the trembling little woman standing near the
door.

"Do you mean that she is going to let my father be killed rather than tell
what she knows?" Her voice was sharply incredulous, touched with a horror
scarcely realized.

"So she says."

Mrs. Wylie wrung her hands in agitat