Brand Blotters

"You seem to know a heap about the gentleman."

"I know what I know."

"More than I do, perhaps," he suggested.

Her eyes dilated. He could see suspicion take hold of her.

"Perhaps," she answered quietly.

"Does that mean you think I'm not Bucky O'Connor?" He had pushed his pony

forward so as to cut off her advance, and both had halted for the moment.

She looked at him with level, fearless eyes. "I don't know who you are."

"But you think I'm not Lieutenant O'Connor of the rangers?"

"I don't know whether you are or not."

"There is nothing like making sure. Just look over this letter, please."

She did so. It was from the governor of the Territory to the ranger

officer. While he was very complimentary as to past services, the governor

made it plain that he thought O'Connor must at all hazards succeed in

securing the release of Simon West. This would be necessary for the good

name of the Territory. Otherwise, a widespread report would go out that

Arizona was a lawless place in which to live.

Melissy folded the letter and handed it back. "I beg your pardon,

Lieutenant O'Connor. I see that I was wrong."

"Forget it, my dear. We all make mistakes." He had that curious mocking

smile which so often hovered about his lips. She felt as though he were

deriding her--as though his words held some hidden irony which she could

not understand.

"The governor seems very anxious to have you succeed. It will be a black

eye for Arizona if this band of outlaws is not apprehended. You don't

think, do you, that they will do Mr. West any harm, if their price is not

paid? They would never dare."

He took this up almost as though he resented it. "They would dare

anything. I reckon you'll have to get up early in the mornin' to find a

gamer man than Black MacQueen."

"I wouldn't call it game to hurt an old man whom he has in his power. But

you mustn't let it come to that. You must save him. Are you making any

progress? Have you run down any of the band? And while I think of it--have

you seen to-day's paper?"

"No--why?"

"The biggest story on the front page is about the West case. It seems that

this MacQueen wired to Chicago to Mr. Lucas, president of one of the lines

on the Southwestern system, that they would release Mr. West for three

hundred thousand dollars in gold. He told him a letter had been mailed to

the agent at Mesa, telling under just what conditions the money was to be

turned over; and he ended with a threat that, if steps were taken to

capture the gang, or if the money were not handed over at the specified

time, Mr. West would disappear forever."