Jeff had read the note. He stood regarding the ranchman. Suddenly his
voice broke sharply.
"Leave my horse at the tying post. Wait for me at the barn."
He watched the man secure his horse. Then he watched him return to the
barn. Nor did he speak again till he was out of earshot.
At last he turned back to the waiting woman.
"Who sent this? When did you get it? How?" The questions came
rapidly.
"It came the night you were at Orrville. It was flung in through the
open window late at night. I'd fallen asleep in my chair--waiting. It
hit me on the face. They'd made it fast around a grass-tuft."
"Who sent it?"
"It must have been the man, Sikkem, who's just sent in word to you
he's--shot up."
"Sikkem? Why?"
Suddenly the restraint Elvine was exercising gave way. Even her
husband's deliberate coldness was powerless to stem the tide of
conviction which had steadily mounted up within her. The one thought
in her mind was that he stood in danger. Her reason was slight enough,
but her love accentuated her intuition.
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