Linton before he got engaged, an' all the boys. She's shore
chain-lightnin', that little black-eyed devil. Danny might hev
sloped with her all right. Danny was held up on the way to town,
an' then in the shame of it he got drunk. But he'll shew up
soon."

"Wal, mebbe you an' the boys are right. I believe you are.
Nels, there ain't no doubt on earth about who was ridin'
Stewart's hoss?"

"Thet's as plain as the hoss's tracks."

"Wal, it's all amazin' strange. It beats me. I wish the boys
would ease up on drinkin'. I was pretty fond of Danny an' Gene.
I'm afraid Gene's done fer, sure. If he crosses the border where
he can fight it won't take long fer him to get plugged. I guess
I'm gettin' old. I don't stand things like I used to."

"Bill, I reckon I'd better hit the Peloncillo trail. Mebbe I can
find Danny."

"I reckon you had, Nels," replied Stillwell. "But don't take
more 'n a couple of days. We can't do much on the round-up
without you. I'm short of boys."

That ended the conversation. Stillwell immediately began to
hitch up his team, and the cowboys went out to fetch their
strayed horses. Madeline had been curiously interested, and she
saw that Florence knew it.