Page:The Cross Pull.pdf/195

 gone before, In that instant all reservations were swept aside, and she knew that he could have his way with her no matter where that way led.

“How did you guess that you could find her here?” Moran inquired.

“That article in the papers,” said Nash. “About the girl who turned up in a little town at the foot of the hills and bought a blanket, a few articles of underwear and a walking suit. She caught the Shoshone stage, left it ten miles below the upper ranger station and disappeared. The eastern papers took it up—and I knew it was my charming runaway wife.”

Moran turned and the girl’s white face confirmed the truth of this assertion but her eyes looked unflinchingly into his. It was this name, now hers, that she had so disliked. A wave of nausea swept him at the thought of her being the wife of a beast like Nash.

Nash sought to take advantage of this long look between them and his hand stole nearer to the gun at his hip. Flash tensed his muscles for a spring and his snarl warned Moran. His gun steadied as his eyes came back to Nash.

“Very well, Nash. I’ve heard you out,” he said. “You can be going now.”