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 bank, and her slavin' nearly five years to git ahead that much over payin' for the house."

"You don't tell me, ma'am! I didn't know she was a depositor, but I reckon most everybody was."

"Ollie had ninety dollars, there, too. He's sorry now he didn't cut Stott's throat the last time he had him in his chair, and he'd 'a' done it, too, if he'd 'a' knowed what was in his rascally mind!"

"Has he gone out with the posse to hunt for track of Stott?"

"No, he's over at the shop. Zeb Smith's roamin' around agin, out of a job since Mackey sold and skipped."

"He's a mighty ornery man, ma'am."

"Yes, and Ollie says he ain't worth killin', but he knows he'll have to do it before he'll have any peace."

"Has anybody been in lookin' for me, ma'am?"

"No, Texas; nobody ain't."

"I'm goin' up to my room to write a letter, and I wish you'd call me if anybody comes askin'."

"Sure I will, Texas."

Hartwell had little business to leave behind him if he should be summoned suddenly from the world, but what there was he wanted to set straight. There was a shadowy possibility that something might come in time out of the present worthless investments in Kansas City. The deeds to these mel-