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bare and open space； with scattered cattle and horsemen； exactly
like an encampment； or the gathering of a country fair。 As Clarence
rode down towards them he could see that his approach was instantly
observed； and that a simultaneous movement was made as if to
anticipate him。 For the first time he realized the possible
consequences of his visit； single…handed； but it was too late to
retrace his steps。 With a glance at his holster； he rode boldly
forward to the nearest shed。 A dozen men hovered near him； but
something in his quiet； determined manner held them aloof。 Gilroy
was on the threshold in his shirtsleeves。 A single look showed him
that Clarence was alone； and with a careless gesture of his hand he
warned away his own followers。
〃You've got a sort of easy way of droppin' in whar you ain't
invited； Brant；〃 he said with a grim smile； which was not； however；
without a certain air of approval。 〃Got it from your father； didn't
you？〃
〃I don't know； but I don't believe HE ever thought it necessary to
warn twenty men of the approach of ONE；〃 replied Clarence； in the
same tone。 〃I had no time to stand on ceremony； for I have just
come from Hooker's quarter section at Fair Plains。〃
Gilroy smiled again； and gazed abstractedly at the sky。
〃You know as well as I do；〃 said Clarence； controlling his voice
with an effort； 〃that what you have done there will have to be
undone； if you wish to hold even those lawless men of yours
together； or keep yourself and them from being run into the brush
like highwaymen。 I've no fear for that。 Neither do I care to know
what was your motive in doing it； but I can only tell you that if it
was retaliation； I alone was and still am responsible for Hooker's
action at the rancho。 I came here to know just what you have done
with him； and； if necessary； to take his place。〃
〃You're just a little too previous in your talk； I reckon； Brant；〃
returned Gilroy lazily； 〃and as to legality； I reckon we stand on
the same level with yourself； just here。 Beginnin' with what you
came for： as we don't know where your Jim Hooker is； and as we ain't
done anythin' to HIM； we don't exackly see what we could do with YOU
in his place。 Ez to our motives；well； we've got a good deal to
say about THAT。 We reckoned that he wasn't exackly the kind of man
we wanted for a neighbor。 His pow'ful fightin' style didn't suit us
peaceful folks； and we thought it rather worked agin this new 'law
and order' racket to have such a man about； to say nuthin' of it
prejudicin' quiet settlers。 He had too many revolvers for one man
to keep his eye on； and was altogether too much steeped in blood； so
to speak； for ordinary washin' and domestic purposes！ His hull get
up was too deathlike and clammy； so we persuaded him to leave。 We
just went there； all of us； and exhorted him。 We stayed round there
two days and nights； takin' turns； talkin' with him； nuthin' more；
only selecting subjects in his own style to please him； until he
left！ And then； as we didn't see any use for his house there； we
took it away。 Them's the cold facts； Brant；〃 he added； with a
certain convincing indifference that left no room for doubt； 〃and
you can stand by 'em。 Now； workin' back to the first principle you
laid down；that we'll have to UNDO what we've DONE；we don't agree
with you； for we've taken a leaf outer your own book。 We've got it
here in black and white。 We've got a bill o' sale of Hooker's house
and possession； and we're on the land in place of him；AS YOUR
TENANTS。〃 He reentered the shanty； took a piece of paper from a
soap…box on the shell； and held it out to Clarence。 〃Here it is。
It's a fair and square deal； Brant。 We gave him； as it says here； a
hundred dollars for it！ No humbuggin'； but the hard cash； by
Jiminy！ AND HE TOOK THE MONEY。〃
The ring of truth in the man's voice was as unmistakable as the
signature in Jim's own hand。 Hooker had sold out！ Clarence turned
hastily away。
〃We don't know where he went；〃 continued Gilroy grimly； 〃but I
reckon you ain't over anxious to see him NOW。 And I kin tell ye
something to ease your mind；he didn't require much persuadin'。
And I kin tell ye another； if ye ain't above takin' advice from
folks that don't pertend to give it；〃 he added； with the same
curious look of interest in his face。 〃You've done well to get shut
of him； and if you got shut of a few more of his kind that you trust
to； you'd do better。〃
As if to avoid noticing any angry reply from the young man； he
reentered the cabin and shut the door behind him。 Clarence felt the
uselessness of further parley； and rode away。
But Gilroy's Parthian arrow rankled as he rode。 He was not greatly
shocked at Jim's defection； for he was always fully conscious of his
vanity and weakness； but he was by no means certain that Jim's
extravagance and braggadocio； which he had found only amusing and；
perhaps； even pathetic； might not be as provocative and prejudicial
to others as Gilroy had said。 But； like all sympathetic and
unselfish natures； he sought to find some excuse for his old
companion's weakness in his own mistaken judgment。 He had no
business to bring poor Jim on the land； to subject his singular
temperament to the temptations of such a life and such surroundings；
he should never have made use of his services at the rancho。 He had
done him harm rather than good in his ill…advised； and； perhaps；
SELFISH attempts to help him。 I have said that Gilroy's parting
warning rankled in his breast； but not ignobly。 It wounded the
surface of his sensitive nature； but could not taint or corrupt the
pure； wholesome blood of the gentleman beneath it。 For in Gilroy's
warning he saw only his own shortcomings。 A strange fatality had
marked his friendships。 He had been no help to Jim； he had brought
no happiness to Susy or Mrs。 Peyton； whose disagreement his visit
seemed to have accented。 Thinking over the mysterious attack upon
himself； it now seemed to him possible that； in some obscure way；
his presence at the rancho had precipitated the more serious attack
on Peyton。 If； as it had been said； there was some curse upon his
inheritance from his father； he seemed to have made others share it
with him。 He was riding onward abstractedly； with his head sunk on
his breast and his eyes fixed upon some vague point between his
horse's sensitive ears； when a sudden； intelligent； forward pricking
of them startled him； and an apparition arose from the plain before
him that seemed to sweep all other sense away。
It was the figure of a handsome young horseman as abstracted as
himself； but evidently on better terms with his own personality。 He
was dark haired； sallow cheeked； and blue eyed；the type of the old
Spanish Californian。 A burnt…out cigarette was in his mouth； and he
was riding a roan mustang with the lazy grace of his race。 But what
arrested Clarence's attention more than his picturesque pers