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rose it was with a very grave face。
〃He is dead；〃 he said quietly。
McWilliams； who had been bending over Chalkeye； looked up。 〃Here；
too。 Any one of the shots would have finished him。〃
Bannister nodded。 〃Yes。 That first exchange killed them both。〃 He
looked down at the limp body of his cousin； but a minute before so full of
supple； virile life。 〃But his hate had to reach out and make sure； even
though he was as good as dead himself。 He was game。〃 Then sharply to
the young braggart； who had risen and was edging away with a face of
chalk： 〃Sit down； y'u！ What do y'u take us for？ Think this is to be a
massacre？〃
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The man came back with palpable hesitancy。 〃I was aiming to go and
get the boys to bury them。 My God； did you ever see anything so quick？
They drilled through each other like lightning。〃
Mac looked him over with dry contempt。 〃My friend； y'u're too tender
for a genuwine A1 bad man。 If I was handing y'u a bunch of advice it
would be to get back to the prosaic paths of peace right prompt。 And while
we're on the subject I'll borrow your guns。 Y'u're scared stiff and it might
get into your fool coconut to plug one of us and light out。 I'd hate to see
y'u commit suicide right before us； so I'll just natcherally unload y'u。〃
He was talking to lift the strain； and it was for the same purpose that
Bannister moved over to Hughie； who sat with his face in his hands； trying
to shut out the horror of what he had seen。
The sheepman dropped a hand on his shoulder gently。 〃Brace up； boy！
Don't you see that the very best thing that could have happened is this。 It's
best for y'u； best for the rest of the gang and best for the whole cattle
country。 We'll have peace here at last。 Now he's gone； honest men are
going to breathe easy。 I'll take y'u in hand and set y'u at work on one of my
stations； if y'u like。 Anyhow； you'll have a chance to begin life again in a
better way。〃
〃That's right；〃 agreed the blatant youth。 〃I'm sick of rustling the mails
and other folks' calves。 I'm glad he got what was coming to him；〃 he
concluded vindictively； with a glance at his dead chief and a sudden
raucous oath。
McWilliams's cold blue eye transfixed him 〃Hadn't you better be a
little careful how your mouth goes off？ For one thing； he's daid now； and
for another； he happens to be Mr。 Bannister's cousin。〃
〃Butweren't they enemies？〃
〃That's how I understand it。 But this man's passed over the range。 A
MAN doesn't unload his hatred on dead folksand I expect if y'u'll study
him； even y'u will be able to figure out that my friend measures up to the
size of a real man。〃
〃I don't see why if〃
〃No； I don't suppose y'u do；〃 interrupted the foreman； turning on his
heel。 Then to Bannister； who was looking down at his cousin with a stony
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face： 〃I reckon； Bann； we better make arrangements to have the bodies
buried right here in the valley；〃 he said gently。
Bannister was thinking of early days； of the time when this miscreant；
whose light had just been put out so instantaneously； had played with him
day in and day out。 They had attended their first school together； had
played marbles and prisoners' base a hundred times against each other。 He
could remember how they used to get up early in the morning to go fishing
with each other。 And later； when each began； unconsciously； to choose the
path he would follow in already beginning to settle into an established fact。
He could see now； by looking back on trifles of their childhood； that his
cousin had been badly handicapped in his fight with himself against the
evil in him。 He had inherited depraved instincts and tastes； and with them
somewhere in him a strand of weakness that prevented him from slaying
the giants he had to oppose in the making of a good character。 From bad to
worse he had gone； and here he lay with the drizzling rain on his white
face； a warning and a lesson to wayward youths just setting their feet in
the wrong direction。 Surely it was kismet。
Ned Bannister untied the handkerchief from his neck and laid it across
the face of his kinsman。 A moment longer he looked down； then passed his
hands across his eyes and seemed to brush away the memories that
thronged him。 He stepped forward to the fire and warmed his hands。
〃We'll go on； Mac； to the rendezvous he had appointed with his outfit。
We ought to reach there by noon； and the boys can send a wagon back to
get the bodies。〃
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CHAPTER 23。 JOURNEYS END
IN LOVERS' MEETING
It had been six days since the two Ned Bannisters had ridden away
together into the mountains； and every waking hour since that time had
been for Helen one of harassing anxiety。 No word had yet reached her of
the issue of that dubious undertaking； and she both longed and dreaded to
hear。 He had promised to send a messenger as soon as he had anything
definite to tell； but she knew it would be like his cousin； too； to send her
some triumphant word should he prove the victor in the struggle between
them。 So that every stranger she glimpsed brought to her a sudden beating
of the heart。
But it was not the nature of Helen Messiter to sit down and give
herself up a prey to foreboding。 Her active nature cried out for work to
occupy her and distract her attention。 Fortunately this was to be had in
abundance just now。 For the autumn round…up was on； and since her
foreman was away the mistress of the Lazy D found plenty of work ready
to her hand。
The meeting place for the round…up riders was at Boom Creek； five
miles from the ranch； and Helen rode out there to take charge of her own
interests in person。 With her were six riders； and for the use of each of
them in addition to his present mount three extra ponies were brought in
the remuda。 For the riding is so hard during the round…up that a horse can
stand only one day in four of it。 At the appointed rendezvous a score of
other cowboys and owners met them。 Without any delay they proceeded to
business。 Mr。 Bob Austin； better known as 〃Texas；〃 was elected boss of
the round…up； and he immediately assigned the men to their places and
announced that they would work Squaw Creek。 They moved camp at once；
Helen returning to the ranch。
It was three o'clock in the morning when the men were roused by the
cook's triangle calling them to the 〃chuck wagon〃 for breakfast。 It was still
cold and dark as the boys crawled from under their blankets and squatted
round the fire to eat jerky； biscuits and gravy； and to drink cupfuls of hot；
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black coffee。 Before sun rose every man was at his post far up on the
Squaw Creek ridges ready to begin the drive。
Later in the day Helen rode to the parade grounds； toward which a
stream of cattle was pouring down the canyon of the creek。 Every gulch
tributary to the creek contributed its quota of wild cows and calves。 These
came romping down the canyon mouth； where four picked men； with a
bunch of tame cows in front of them； stopped the rush of flying cattle。
Lunch was omitted； and branding began at once。 Every calf belonging to a
Lazy D cow； after being roped and tied； was flanked with the great D
which indicated its ownership by Miss Messiter； and on account of the
recumbent position of which letter the ranch had its name。
It was during the branding that a boyish young fellow rode up and
handed Helen a note。 Her heart pumped rapidly with relief； for one glance
told her that it was in the handwriting of the Ned Bannister she loved。 She
tore it open and glanced swiftly through it。