halt at the gate, and a huge figure in black flung itself from the saddle, and came running through the gate and up to the cottage.
"What you got there, Missus?" roared the deep voice of Bill Hicks, of Bullhide, and at the sound of his voice Jane Ann burst open the door at the foot of the stairs and ran out to meet him.
"This here's the man you want to meet, I guess," panted the old woman, desisting at length in her use of the poker. "Do ye want him now, Mister?"
"Uncle Bill!" shrieked Jane Ann.
"Great cats!' cried the cattleman. "Is it Jane Ann herself? Is she alive?"
The girl flung herself into the big man's arms. "I'm all right, Uncle!" she cried, laughing and crying together. "And that man yonder didn't hurt me—only kep' me on a desert island till Ruth and Tom and Helen found me."
"Then he kin go!" declared Bill Hicks, turning suddenly as Crab started through the door. "And here's what will help him!"
The Westerner swung his heavy boot with the best intention in the world and caught Jack Crab just as he was going down the step. With a yell of pain the fellow sailed through the air, landing at least ten feet from the doorway. But he was up from his hands and knees and running
