. "Maybe up in the hills. Maybe at the
old Salton place. If I thought she was there, I'd risk goin' up and
gettin' her--with her leave or without it!"

"Don't be talkin' fool stuff like that," said his mother anxiously.
"You ain't goin' near Jim Silent agin, Buck!"

He shrugged his shoulders, with a scowl, and turned away to go back to
the bedside of Whistling Dan.

In the morning Buck was hardly less haggard than Dan. His mother, with
clasped hands and an anxious face, stood at the foot of the bed,
but her trouble was more for her son than for Dan. Old Sam was out
saddling Buck's horse, for they had decided that the doctor must be
brought from Elkhead at once.

"I don't like to leave him," growled Buck. "I misdoubt what may be
happenin' while I'm gone."

"Don't look at me like that," said his mother. "Why, Buck, a body
would think that if he dies while you're gone you'll accuse your
father an' mother of murder."

"Don't be no minute away from him," urged Buck, "that's all I ask."

"Cure his brain," said his mother monotonously, "an' his body'll take
care of itself. Who's that talkin' with your dad outside?"

Very faintly they caught the sound of voices, and after a moment the
departing clatter of a galloping horse. Old Sam ran into the house
breathless.

"Who was it? What's the matter, pa?" asked his wife, for the old
cowpuncher's face was pale even through his tan.

"Young Seaton was jest here. He an' a hundred other fellers is combin'
the range an' warnin' everyone agin that Dan Barry. The bullet in his
shoulder--he got it while he was breaking jail with Lee Haines. An' he
shot down the hosses of two men an' his dog pulled down a third one."

"Busted jail with Lee Haines!" breathed Buck. "It ain't no ways
nacheral. Which Dan hates Lee Haines!"

"He was bought off by Jim Silent," said old Sam. "They opened a letter
in Elkhead, an' the letter told everything. It was signed "J.S." an'
it thanked Dan for gettin' "L.H." free."

"It's a lie!" said Buck doggedly.

"Buck! Sam!" cried Mrs. Daniels, seeing the two men of her family
glaring at each other with something like hate in their eyes. "Sam,
have you forgot that this lad has eat your food in your house?"

Sam turned as crimson as he had been pale before.

"I forgot," he muttered. "I was scared an' forgot!"

"An' maybe you've forgot that I'd be swingin' on the end of a rope in
Elkhead if it wasn't for Dan Barry?" suggested Buck.

"Buck," said his f