The Forfeit Read Online Free PDF

and-it's about them. The gang, I mean."
    His pony was still blowing. Bob had ridden hard. He had first ridden into Orrville, and then followed the rancher out here. He was leaning over in the saddle lounging upon the horn of it. His eyes were gazing curiously, speculatively at the figure of the man who ruled the local cattle industry. He was calculating in his own way what might be the effect of the news he had to impart. What estimate this big man-and Bob knew him to be a big man-would have of him when he had told his news and claimed the-blood money? With each moment he shrank smaller and smaller in his own estimation.
    Dug regarded him steadily.
    "You've got news of them?"
    Bob nodded, and glanced meaningly in the direction of Lew Hank.
    "I've seen 'em. But-it's more than that."
    The rancher turned quickly upon his foreman.
    "Say, just get along into the shack there, and see how the Doc's making with young Syme. I need a talk with Whitstone."
    It was not without obvious and resentful reluctance that Lew Hank withdrew. Even his hardihood, however, was unequal to resisting so direct an order from his chief.
    The two men watched him out of earshot. Then Dug, with almost precipitate haste, turned back to his visitor.
    "Now, sir, I'm ready to hear anything you need to tell me."
    But Bob was thinking of Ju Penrose as he had thought of him many times since he had listened and yielded to Effie's appeal. Every man has his price. Bob knew now that he, like the rest, had his price. That price a woman had set for him. Ju was right-hatefully right. Well, he would now refuse to be robbed of one cent of it.
    He looked up sharply as the other made his demand.
    "You're offering ten thousand dollars reward for the| capture of the Lightfoot gang, Mr. McFarlane?"
    "That's so."
    The rancher's regard had deepened. There was a curious light shining in his blue eyes. It was half speculative, half suggestive of growing excitement. It was wholly full of a burning interest.
    "Say, I'd just like to know how I stand." Bob laughed that short hard laugh which bears no trace of mirth. "You see, I can put you wise. I can lead you right on to their camp so you can get 'em-while they're sleeping, or any other old way. Oh, yes, I'm ready to play my part right up to the limit. It don't matter a thing. I'm not just here to tell you about things. I'm here to lead you to that camp, and take a hand in the hanging when you get busy. You see, I'm a whole hogger. But I want to know how things stand about that ten thousand dollar reward. Do I get it? If I get shot up does my wife get it? And when it's paid, do you shout about it? Does the gang down Orrville way need to know who it was they forgot to hand the name of Judas to when he was christened? I don't care a cuss on my own account. It's--"
    But Dug McFarlane broke in upon the bitter raillery. He had no thought for the man or his feelings, just for one moment it seemed to him that some sort of miracle had happened. And his every thought and feeling was absorbed in it. Here, after five years of vain effort, here, after five years of depredations which had almost threatened the cattle industry in the district with complete crippling, here was a man who could lead them to the raiders' hiding-place, could show them how the hanging they all so cordially desired could be brought about. It was stupendous. It was-yes, it was miraculous.
    His first impulse had been to give way to the excitement which stirred him, but he restrained himself.
    "Ten thousand dollars will be paid by me to the man, or his nominee, privately, if his information leads to the hanging of this gang. Say, boy, we ain't goin' to split hairs or play any low games on this lay out. I'm a rich man, an' ten thousand dollars ain't a circumstance so we break up this gang. If we only get one of 'em or part of 'em, the man who shows me their hiding-place, and leads me to it, that man-or his wife-gets my ten thousand dollars. You can have it in writing. But my