“Don’t you know?”
“No, I don’t.” His tone was convincing.
“Well, I’ll tell you. All the rustlers are taken, and I have absolute proof that you are their leader,” replied Bud coolly. “I allow old Bissell will be glad to see you when you’re brought in, eh?”
Stelton laughed contemptuously.
“What proof?” he demanded.
“A note to Smithy Caldwell that he forgot to burn. He tried to swallow it when I captured him, but I saw him first.”
Stelton stood the blow well and made no answer, but Larkin, watching him, saw his head drop a trifle as though he were crushed by some heavy weight. 244
“What’re yuh goin’ to do with me now?” he asked at last.
“Ship you under guard to the Bar T ranch, where the rest have gone. Then the cattlemen can settle your case when they come back from their vacation.”
For an instant it was on Stelton’s tongue to blurt out what had happened two days previous, but an instinctive knowledge that Larkin would profit by the information restrained him, and he continued riding on in silence, a prey to dismal thoughts better imagined than described.