Page:The trail of the golden horn.djvu/118

114 other’s presence, for silence is often more eloquent than many words. When at length Rolfe’s heavy breathing told them that he was asleep, North reached out, took Marion’s right hand in his, and pressed it firmly.

“It is great to be here so near you,” he began. “You have been so much in my mind, and I was wondering how you were making out at Big Chance. Never for an instant did I picture you away out here. Tell me all about it.”

“There really isn’t much to tell other than what you already know,” Marion replied. “I am so worried about that poor girl. I am sure that something has happened to her. And she was so anxious about her injured lover, Tim, and wanted to get to the missionary at The Gap for help as fast as possible.”

“And so you came with her for company? Is that it?”

“Oh, no,” Marion replied in a low voice. “I heard something at Big Chance which worried me, so I came along hoping to find you and to warn you.”

“To warn me!” North exclaimed in surprise. “What for?”

“Yes, to warn you against danger. I heard something about Bill, the Slugger. From what Zell told me, I fear that he intends to do you some harm. At first the girl hesitated about telling me anything. She was terribly afraid of Bill, and begged me not to say a word to you lest he should kill her.”

The sergeant was all attention now, eager to hear more. He believed that the half-breed girl knew something which was most important for him to know.

“Did she say anything about that murder near the C. D. Cut-Off?” he questioned.

“Not directly. But when I asked her if Bill did it,