“Let’s hear from you first,” said Lillie. “You fetched back them hosses. Thet is the trick. An’, of course, you got Fred the same as you got Bierman.”

“Bierman!”

“Sure. He was found dead yesterday all chewed by coyotes, en’ he’d been shot plumb center.”

“Where was he found?”

“At the split down the trail—you know where Pitkin's cattle trail runs off north from the trail to the pass.”

“That’s where I met Fred and the rustlers. What was Bierman doing with them? I thought Bierman was an honest cattle-man.”

“Lord—Everline, don’t ask me thet! I’m all muddled now tryin’ to figure things.”

Everline told of the fight and the race with Fred Card and its tragic conclusion.

“I knowed it! I knowed all along that Wrangle was the best hoss!” exclaimed Lillie, with her lean face working and her eyes lighting. “Thet was a race! Lord, I’d like to hev seen Wrangle jump the cliff with Fred. An’ thet was good-by to the grandest hoss an’ rider ever on the sage!... But, Everline, after you got the hosses why’d you want to bolt right in Boyter's face?”

“I want him to know. An’ if I can get to him I’ll—”

“You can’t get near Boyter,” interrupted Lillie. “Thet vigilante bunch hev taken to bein’ bodyguard for Boyter an’ Alden, too.”

“Hasn’t Cleary made a break yet?” inquired Everline, curiously.

“Naw!” replied Lillie, scornfully. “Esther turned his head. He’s mad in love over her—follers her like a dog. He ain’t no more Cleary! He’s lost his nerve, he doesn’t look like the same feller. It’s village talk. Everybody knows it. He hasn’t thrown a gun, an’ he won’t!”