日期：2021-02-24 Presently Mrs. Archer released her spasmodic grip on Strattons flannel shirt and fumbled for her handkerchief. Im a fool to--to waste time like this, she faltered, dabbing her eyes with the crumpled square of cambric. I think youre rather wonderful,... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 Motionless in his saddle, save for an occasional restless stamp of his horse, Bud Jessup waited patiently in front of the adobe shack at Las Vegas camp. His face was serious and thoughtful, and his glance was fixed on the open door through which cam... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 How long she stood there staring fearfully at the empty window of the shed, Mary Thorne had no idea. She seemed frozen and incapable of movement. But at last, with a shiver, she came to herself, and bending out, drew in the heavy wooden, shutters an... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 With her back against the veranda pillar, Mary Thorne watched the group of mounted men canter down the slope, splash across the creek, and file briskly through the gate leading to middle pasture. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that, for th... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 Almost at once they struck a fresh trail, made by a number of horsemen riding in a bunch, which led diagonally across middle pasture. It was easy to follow, and Hardenberg pushed his men hard to make up for delays which were likely to come later on.... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 I had an idea thats who it was when you described him, said Sheriff Hardenberg, to whom Stratton returned at once with the news. Theres only one Paul around here who fits the bill, and he sure does to perfection. Who is he? asked Buck curiously. Har... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 During that brief lull Buck found time to wonder why no one had sense enough to use a gun to bring them down. But almost as swiftly the answer came to him; they dared not risk the sound of a shot bringing interference from without. He flashed a glan... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 Yuh out last night? brusquely inquired Gabby, as they were dressing next morning. A direct question from the eccentric individual was so novel that Buck paused in buckling on his cartridge-belt, and stared at him in frank surprise. Why, no, he retur... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 Jessup swallowed hard. But--but-- he faltered, there aint never been any found around here. The nearest fields are hundreds of miles away, aint they? Stratton dropped the lump of sand. A number of particles still clung to his palm, and over the skin... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 Bud Jessup removed a battered stew-pan from the fire and set it aside to cool a little. Well, by this time I reckon friend Tex is all worked up over whats become of me, he remarked in a tone of satisfaction, deftly shifting the coffee-pot to a bed o... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 With a deep sigh, Buck lifted his face from the water and regarded her gratefully. That just about saved my life, he murmured. Mary Thorne carefully set down the improvised water-bucket, its contents much depleted, and taking out her handkerchief, s... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 A few hundred yards away from the fence strung along the western side of middle pasture, Mary Thorne pulled her horse down to a walk and straightened her hat mechanically. Her cheeks were flushed becomingly and her eyes shone, but at the end of that... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 The discovery galvanized Stratton into instant, alert attention. Motor-cars were rare in this remote range country and confined almost solely to the sort of flivver which is not entirely dependent on roads. The presence in the north pasture of this... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 Buck took to Jim Tenny at once. There was something about this long, lean, brown-faced foreman of the Rocking-R, with his clear gray eyes and that half-humorous twist to his thin lips, which inspired not only confidence but liking as well. He listen... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 Stratton staggered back against the wall and leaned there, panting. All his strength had gone out in that last terrific blow, and for a space he seemed incapable of movement. At length, conscious of a warm, moist trickle on his chin, he raised one h... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 On the other side of the house Buck found the mistress of the ranch and her two guests standing in a little group beside one of the dusty, discouraged-looking flower-beds. As he appeared they all glanced toward him, and a troubled, almost frightened... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 More than once during the following few days, Stratton was forced to a grudging admiration, of Tex Lynchs cleverness. Even knowing what he did, he failed to detect the slightest sign in either the foreman or his men that they were waiting expectantl... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 More than once during the next ten minutes Buck cursed himself inwardly for not having brought along the small but powerful pair of field-glasses that were tucked away in his bag. He had picked them up at the Divisional Headquarters only a week or t... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 Strattons first feeling was that the girl must have made a mistake. In a dazed fashion he stepped forward and helped her out of the buckboard, but this was a more or less mechanical action and because she so evidently expected it. As he took her han... 阅读全文>>

日期：2021-02-24 The low-down, ornery liar! sputtered Bud Jessup, face flushed and eyes snapping. He told me to wait for them bolts if I had to stay here all day. I thought it was kinda funny hed let me waste all this time, but I didnt have no idea at all hed got me... 阅读全文>>