“ lie’s been a slcaiin ’ h-irses !” ex
claimed I’etc "(lot oil’ last uignt
with four of Maxwell’s best, some
where*. Tb it reward won’t do much
good, though. The regulars 'll lasso
him ami string him up long Tore the
law ’ll gsl started. They’re havin' a
mcctiu’ now up the < iulch. 1 tell ye
they are mad. They’ll make puck
work if they ketch him. Vor fatlier’s
there. Ve needn't look for him home
afore nig'bl much.”
T’ht'ii, after a word of two more, the
man rode on, and presently Sacra
mento look up her pail, ami with the
sht riff's bill still in her hand, wen’
slowly up tin' bank and across the
trail toward the house, thinking very
seriously about $5Ui) all the while.
li was some hours after this, and
the afternoon sun was going down
behind the lops of the mountains,that
Sacramento, having finished her
housework, was preparing to sit down
on the poix'h to do sewing, when she
was met hi the doorway by a young
until sSe had never seen before. And
vet he was no stranger. The girl
knew him instantly, although the
slouch hat was pulled down over the
llaxeu hair and blue eyes, anJ gray
pants, torn and muddy, bad been
drawn out of the boot legs so as to no
longer allow the red tops of the hoots
with tin* maker's name to be seen It
was the horse thief.
