That was the little stream that Kenset had looked for in his ideal spot, this was the home he had made for himself, these were the things of the 228 other life he had known, these soft, dark pictures, the books on the tables, the brass things shining in the light from the lamp.... She knew that she was cold in the summer night, that she was staring miserably out of the open door, scarcely conscious of the scattered voices of her men, searching, searching, hunting, in widening circles outside.... Then they came back talking in low voices and she roused herself desperately. Her limbs were stiff when she rose from the big chair, her hands were icy.
“No use, Tharon,” said Conford quietly, “we can’t find a damned thing. If Courtrey’s bunch killed Kenset they made a clean get-away with all evidence. That much has th’ new law done in th’ Valley––killed th’ insolence of th’ gun man. Let’s go home.”
It was Billy, faithful and still, who helped her––for the first time in her life!––to mount a horse. She went up on El Rey as if she were old. Then they were riding down the smooth floor of the little glade, leaving that darkened cabin at its head to stand in tragic loneliness.
She saw the tops of the guarding pines at the gateway, rode out between them. The moon was up in majesty, and by its light Jack Masters suddenly leaned down to look at something, pulled up, swept down from his saddle, cowboy fashion, 229 hanging by a foot and a hand, and picked up something which he examined keenly.
“Look,” he said quickly, “th’ beet-man’s badge!”
He held out on his palm a small dark object, the copper-coloured shield which had shone on Kenset’s breast!
Its double-tongued fastener was twisted far awry, as if it had been wrenched away by violence.
Conford turned and looked back to the cabin, as if he measured the distance.
“There’s been funny work here as sure’s hell,” he said profoundly.
Then they rode on, all silent, thinking. It was near dawn when they rode up along the sounding-board and put in at Last’s. Billy reached up tender arms and took Tharon off El Rey, and for the first time she gave herself wearily into them as if she were done.