the sparse willow growth； Pink turned and stopped them。 〃I know the layout
here；〃 he whispered。 〃I'll just sneak ahead and rubber around。 You Rubes
sound like the beginning of a stampede； in this brush。〃
The sheriff had never before been called a Rubeto his face； at least。 The
audacity took his breath； and when he opened his mouth for scathing speech；
Pink was not there。 He had slipped away； like a slim； elusive shadow； and
the sheriff did not even know the exact direction of his going。 There was
nothing for it but to wait。
In five minutes Pink appeared with a silent suddenness that startled them
more than they would like to own。
〃He's somewheres around；〃 he announced； in a murmur that would not carry ten
feet。 〃He's got a horse in the corral； and； from the sound； he's got him all
saddled； and the gate's tied shut with a rope。〃
〃How d'yuh know？〃 grunted the sheriff crossly。
〃Felt of it； yuh chump。 He's turned the bunch loose and kept up a fresh one；
like I said he would。 It's blame dark； but I could see the horsea big
white devil。 It's him yuh hear makin' all that racket。 If he gits away
now〃
〃Well； we didn't come for a chin…whackin' bee；〃 snapped the sheriff。 〃I come
out here t' git him。〃
Pink gritted his teeth again； and wished the sheriff was just a man； so he
could lick him。 He led them forward without a word； thinking that Rowdy
wanted Harry Conroy captured。
The sheriff circled warily the corral； peered through the rails at the great
white horse that ran here and there； whinnying occasionally for the band；
and heard the creak of leather and the rattle of the bit。 Pink was right；
the horse was saddled； ready for immediate flight。
〃Maybe he's in the cabin；〃 he whispered； coming up where Pink stood
listening tensely at all the little night sounds。 Pink turned and crept
silently to the right； keeping in the deepest shade； while the others
followed willingly。 They were beginning to see the great advantage of having
Pink along； even if he had called them Rubes。
The cabin door yawned wide open； and creaked weirdly as the light wind moved
it； the interior was black and silentsuspiciously silent； in the opinion
of the sheriff。 He waited for some time before venturing in； fearing an
ambush。 Then he caught the flicker of a shielded match； called out to Conroy
to surrender； and leveled his gun at the place。
There was no answer but the faint shuffle of stealthy feet on the board
floor。 The sheriff called another warning； cocked his gunand came near
shooting Pink； who walked composedly out of the door into the sheriff's
astonished face。 The sheriff had been sure that Pink was just behind him。
〃What the hell 〃 began the sheriff explosively。
〃He ain't here；〃 said Pink simply。 〃I crawled in the window and hunted the
place over。〃
The sheriff glared at him dumbly； he could not reconcile Pink's daredevil
behavior with Pink's innocent； girlish appearance。
〃I tell yuh the corral's what we want t' keep cases on；〃 Pink added
insistently。 〃He's sure somewheres aroundI'd gamble on it。 He saddled that
horse t' git away on。 That horse is sure the key t' this situation；
old…timer。 If you fellows'll keep cases on the gate； I'll cover the rear。〃
He made his way quietly to the back of the corral； inwardly much amused at
the tractability of the sheriff； who took his deputy obediently to watch the
gate。
Pink squatted comfortably in the shade of a willow and wished he dared
indulge in a cigarette； and wondered what scheme Harry was trying to play。
Fifty feet away the big white horse still circled round and round； rattling
his bridle impatiently and shaking the saddle in an occasional access of
rage； and whinnying lonesomely out into the gloom。
So they waited and waited； and peered into the shadows； and listened to the
trampling horse fretting for freedom and his mates。
The cook had just called breakfast when Pink dashed up to the tent； flung
himself from his horse； and confronted Rowdya hollow…eyed； haggard Rowdy
who had not slept all night； and whose eyes questioned anxiously。
〃Well；〃 Rowdy said； with what passed for composure； 〃did you get him？〃
Pink leaned against his horse； with one hand reaching up and gripping
tightly the horn of the saddle。 His cheeks held not a trace of color； and
his eyes were full of a great horror。
〃They're bringin' him t' camp；〃 he answered huskily。 〃We found a horsea
big white horse they call the Fern Outlaw〃the Silent One started and came
closer； listening intently； evidently he knew the horse〃saddled in the
corral； and the gate tied shut。 We dubbed around a while； but we didn't
findHarry。 So we camped down by the corral and waited。 We set there all
nightand the horse faunching around inside something fierce。 Whenit
come daybreakI seen somethingby the fence； inside。 It wasHarry。〃 Pink
shivered and moistened his dry lips。 〃That Fern Outlawsome uh the boys
knowis a devil t' mount。 He'd got Harry downhell； Rowdy！ itit was
sureawful。 He'd been there all nightand that horse stomping。 〃
〃Shut up！〃 Rowdy turned all at once deathly sick。 He had once seen a man who
had been trampled by a maddened； man…killing horse。 It had not been a pretty
sight。 He sat down weakly and covered his face with his shaking hands。
The others stood around horrified； muttering disjointed； shocked sentences。
Pink lifted his head from where it had fallen upon his arm。 〃One thing；
RowdyI done。 You can tell Jessie。 I shot that horse。〃
Rowdy dropped his hands and stood up。 Yes； he must tell Jessie。
〃You'll have to take the herd on；〃 he told Pink in his masterful way。 〃I'll
catch you to…morrow some time。 I've got to go back and tell Jessie。 You know
the trail I was going to takestraight across to Wild Horse Lake。 From
there you strike across to North Forkand if I don't overtake you on the
way； I'll hit camp some time in the night。 It's all plain sailing。〃
CHAPTER 13
Rowdy Finds Happiness。
Miss Conroy was rather listlessly endeavoring to persuade the First Reader
class that 〃catch〃 should not be pronounced 〃ketch；〃 when she saw Rowdy ride
past the window。 Intuition of something amiss sent her to the door before he
reached it。
〃Can't you give the kids a day off？〃 he began； without preface。 〃I've got
such a lot to talk aboutand I don't come very often。〃 He thought that his
tone was perfectly natural； but all the same she turned white。 He rode on to
a little tree and tied his horsenot that it was necessary to tie him； but
to avoid questions。
Miss Conroy went in and dismissed the children； although it was only fifteen
minutes after nine。 They gathered up their lunch…pails and straggled out
reluctantly； round…eyed； and curious。 Rowdy waited until the last one had
gone before he went in。 Miss Conroy sat in her chair on the platform； and
she was still white； otherwise she seemed to have herself well in hand。
〃It's about Harry；〃 she asserted； rather sharply。
〃Have theycaught him？〃
Rowdy stopped half…way down the aisle and stared。 〃How did you know they
wereafter him？〃
〃He came to me night before last； andtold me。〃 She bit her lip； took firm
hold on her honesty and her courage； and went on steadily。 〃He came because
hewanted money。 I've wanted to see you since； to tell you thatI
misjudged you。 I know all about yourtrouble； and I want you to know that I
think you arethat you did quite right。 You are to understand that I cannot
honestly upholdHarry。 He isnot the kind of brotherI thought。〃
Rowdy went clanking forward till only the table stood between。 〃Did he tell
you？〃 he demanded； in a curious； breathless fashion。
〃No； he did not。 He denied everything。 It was Pink。 He told me long
agothat evening； just after youthe last time I saw you。 I told him
helied。 I tried not to believe it； but I did。 Pink knew I would； he said
so。 The other night I asked Harry aboutthose things he did to you。 He lied
to me。 I'd have forgiven himbut he lied。 Ican't forgive that。 I〃
〃Hush！〃 Rowdy threw out a gloved hand quickly。 He could not bear to let her
go on like that。
She looked up at him； and all at once she was shaking。 〃There's
somethingtell me！〃
〃They didn't take him；〃 he said slowly； weighing each word and looking down
at her pityingly 〃They never will。 Hehad an accident。 A horsefell with
himandhe was dead when they picked him up。〃 It was as merciful a version
as he could make it； but the words choked him； even then。 〃Girlie！〃 He went
around and knelt； with his arms holding her close。
After a long while he spoke again； smoothing her hair absently； and never
noticing that he had not taken off his gloves。 His gray hat was pushed
aslant as his head rested against hers。
〃Perhaps； girlie； it's for the best。 We couldn't have saved him fromthe
other； and that would have been worse； don't you think？ We'll forget all but
the good in him〃he could not help thinking that there would not be much to
remember〃and I'll get a little home ready； and come back and get you
before snow fliesandyou'll be kind of happy； won't you？
〃Maybe you haven't heardbut Eagle Creek has made me foreman of his outfit
that's going to Canada。 It's a good position。 I can make you comfortable；
girlieand happy。 Anyway； I'll try； mighty hard。 You'll be ready for me
when I comewon't you； girlie？〃
Miss Conroy raised her face； all tear…stained； but； with the light of
happiness fighting the sorrow in her eyes； nodded just enough to make the
movement perceptible； and settled her head to a more comfortable
nestling…place on his shoulder。
End