The Sheriff's Son
was pulled off, I heard of it for the first time. Dave Dingwell knew too much. To protect my friends I had to bring him up here. Legally I'm guilty of abduction and of the train robbery, too, because I butted in after the hold-up and protected the guilty ones. I even tried to save for them the gold they had taken."
"Were—any of the boys in it, dad?" she quavered.
"One of them. I won't tell you which."
"And Brad?"
"We 're not giving names, Boots."
"Oh, well! I know he was one of them." She slipped her arm within her father's and gave his hand a little pressure. "I'm glad you told me, just the same, dad. I'd been thinking—worse things about you."
"That's all right, honey. Now you won't worry any more, will you?"
"I don't know. … That's not all that troubles me. I feel bad when the boys drink and brawl. That attack on Mr. Beaudry at Battle Butte was disgraceful," she flamed. "I don't care if he did come up here spying. Why can't they let him alone?"
He passed a hand in a troubled fashion through his grizzled hair. "You can bet our
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