was halted by Nyland's sharp:

"Hands up!"

And at the sound of the other's voice the newcomer cried out in
astonishment:

"Ben Nyland! What in hell are you doin' here?"

"Lookin' for Dale," said the other, hoarsely. "Thought you was him,
an' come pretty near borin' you. What saved you was a notion I had of
wantin' Dale to know what I was killin' him for! Pretty close, Deal!"

"Why do you want to kill him?"

"For what he done to Peggy--damn him! He sneaked into the house an'
hurt her head, draggin' her to Okar--to Maison's. I've killed Maison,
an' I'll kill him!"

"He ain't here, then--Dale ain't?" demanded Sanderson.

"They ain't nobody here," gruffly announced Nyland. "They've been
here, an' gone. Dale, most likely. The house looks like a twister had
struck it!"

Sanderson was inside before Nyland ceased speaking. He found the lamp,
lit it, and looked around the interior, noting the partially destroyed
lounge and the other wrecked furniture, strewn around the rooms. He
went out again and met Nyland on the porch.