Jack Belllounds would soon present, would be damning and apparently irrefutable.
Waiting for further developments, Wade closely watched the ranch-house, which duty interfered with his attention to the outlying trails. What he did not want to miss was being present when Jack Belllounds accused Wilson Moore of rustling cattle.
So it chanced that Wade was chatting with the cowboys one Sunday afternoon when Jack, accompanied by three strangers, all mounted on dusty, tired horses, rode up to the porch and dismounted.
Lem Billings manifested unusual excitement.
“Montana, ain't thet Sheriff Burley from Kremmlin'?” he queried.
“Shore looks like him.... Yep, thet's him. Now, what's doin'?”
The cowboys exchanged curious glances, and then turned to Wade.
“Bent, what do you make of thet?” asked Lem, as he waved his hand toward the house. “Buster Jack ridin' up with Sheriff Burley.”
The rancher, Belllounds, who was on the porch, greeted the visitors, and then they all went into the house.
“Boys, it's what I've been lookin' for,” replied Wade.
“Shore. Reckon we all have idees. An' if my idee is correct I'm agoin' to git pretty damn sore pronto,” declared Lem.
They were all silent for a few moments, meditating over this singular occurrence, and watching the house. Presently Old Bill Belllounds strode out upon the porch, and, walking out into the court, he peered around as if looking for some one. Then he espied the little group of cowboys.
“Hey!” he yelled. “One of you boys ride up an' fetch Wils Moore down hyar!”
“All right, boss,” called Lem, in reply, as he got up and gave a hitch to his belt.
The rancher hurried back, head down, as if burdened.
“Wade, I reckon you want to go fetch Wils?” queried Lem.
“If it's all the same to you. I'd rather not,” replied Wade.
“By Golly! I don't blame you. Boys, shore'n hell, Burley's after Wils.”
“Wal, suppos'n' he is,” said Montana. “You can gamble Wils ain't agoin' to run. I'd jest like to see him face thet outfit. Burley's a pretty square fellar. An' he's no fool.”
“It's as plain as your nose, Montana, an' thet's shore big enough,” returned Lem, with a hard light in his eyes. “Buster Jack's busted out, an' he's figgered Wils in some deal thet's rung in the sheriff. Wal, I'll fetch Wils.” And, growling to himself, the cowboy slouched off after his horse.
Wade got up, deliberate and thoughtful, and started away.
“Say, Bent, you're shore goin' to see what's up?” asked Montana, in surprise.
“I'll be around, Jim,” replied Wade, and he strolled off to be alone. He wanted to think over this startling procedure of Jack Belllounds's. Wade was astonished. He had expected that an accusation would be made against Moore by Jack, and an exploitation of such proofs as had been craftily prepared, but he had never imagined Jack would be bold enough to carry matters so far. Sheriff Burley was a man of wide experience, keen, practical, shrewd. He was also one of the countless men Wade had rubbed elbows with in the eventful past. It had been Wade's idea that Jack would be satisfied to face his father with the accusation of Moore, and thus cover his tracks. Whatever Old Belllounds might have felt over the loss of a few cattle, he would never have hounded and arrested a cowboy who had done well by him. Burley, however, was a sheriff, and a conscientious one, and he happened to be particularly set against rustlers.
Here was a complication of circumstances. What would Jack Belllounds insist upon? How would Columbine take this plot against the honor and liberty of Wilson Moore? How would Moore himself react to it? Wade confessed that he was helpless to solve these queries, and there seemed to be a further one, insistent and gathering—what was to be his own attitude here? That could not be answered, either, because only a future moment, over which he had no control, and which must decide events, held that secret. Worry beset Wade, but he still found himself proof against the insidious gloom ever hovering near, like his shadow.
He waited near the trail to intercept Billings and Moore on their way to the ranch-house; and to his surprise they appeared sooner than it would have been reasonable to expect them. Wade stepped out of the willows and held up his hand. He did not see anything unusual in Moore's appearance.
“Wils, I reckon we'd do well to talk this over,” said Wade.
“Talk what over?” queried the cowboy, sharply.
[Illustration: “Jack Belllounds!” she cried. “You put the sheriff on that trail!”]
“Why, Old Bill's sendin' for you, an' the fact of Sheriff Burley bein' here.”
“Talk nothing. Let's see what they want, and then talk. Pard, you remember the agreement we made not long ago?”
“Sure. But I'm sort of worried, an' maybe—”
“You needn't worry about me. Come on,” interrupted Moore. “I'd like you to be there. And, Lem, fetch the boys.”
“I shore will, an' if you need any backin' you'll git it.”
When they reached the open Lem turned off toward the corrals, and Wade walked beside Moore's horse up to the house.
Belllounds appeared at the door, evidently having heard the sound of hoofs.
