Page:Honore Willsie--Judith of the godless valley.djvu/298

 from the blue spruce thicket behind the corral. The cabin and the chapel were in full flame. Old Johnny limped up to Douglas. Douglas put a gentle hand on the quivering old shoulder.

"Johnny, when did they come?"

"Right soon."

"You mean after I had gone."

"Yes. They broke the window out. I knew it would happen. This is an awful gregus bad valley."

"Steady now, old boy! Did they hurt the sky pilot?"

"No. They tied him up and took him away. Then I rode down to telephone and they burned it."

"Who was it, Johnny?"

"I don't know but I depone it was Scott and Charleton. They never spoke but I depone it. Like it was Charleton and John tied me to the mule and that was how."

"Steady, Johnny! Which way did they go?"

"I don't know. I was riding down to Mary. I knew Mary—"

"Steady, Johnny." Douglas looked up at the circle of faces. "Is there anybody friendly enough here, if they knew who did this, to tell me?"

There was no reply, and Peter said, "I don't think if it was Scott and Charleton working together, they'd confide in anybody!"

There was a murmur of assent. Douglas stood, the kind hand still on Johnny's shoulder, drawing long shuddering breaths.

"If they hurt my old sky pilot," he said, "God pity 'em, for I sha'n't. Are any of you folks going to help me organize a hunt for him?"

"How do you know the two old fools didn't set fire to it themselves?" demanded John thickly. "The sky