Brand Blotters

"What do you mean?"

MacQueen jeered at his prisoner openly. "I mean, Mr. Sheriff, that you'll

stay with us till the girl does as she has promised. Understand?"

"I think so, you hellhound. You're going to hold me against her so that

she can't change her mind."

"Exactly. So that she can't rue back. You've guessed it."

They rode for hours, but in what direction it was impossible for Flatray

to guess. He could tell when they were ascending, when dropping down hill,

but in a country so rugged this meant nothing.

When at last he dismounted and the kerchief was taken from his eyes he

found himself in a little pocket of the hills in front of an old log

cabin. Jeff stayed with him. The others rode away. But not till they had

him safely tied to a heavy table leg within the hut.