Page:The trail of the golden horn.djvu/86

82 his eyes. “She would have given a cry of distress if they had.”

“Why, what could have happened to her, then?”

“That remains to be seen. There are worse creatures than four-legged wolves prowling around at times, especially where attractive women are concerned.”

Marion understood the meaning of these words, and her thoughts flashed at once to Bill, the Slugger. Could it be possible that he had been following them, and had seized the half-breed girl and carried her off ere she could give a cry of warning? She recalled what Zell had told her about Bill, and his hatred to Tim. She felt weaker and more helpless than ever as she thought of these things.

“What are we to do?” she asked in a despairing voice. Then in a few words she confessed her fears to her father.

“And it was Bill who shot Tim, you say?” he asked.

“That is what Zell told me. Out of revenge, so I understand.”

“Was there any other reason?”

“I believe so.”

Hugo remained silent for a few minutes, lost in thought. Marion watched him closely, and tried to see in his face the resemblance she had known and loved years before. She thought of all that he had meant to her and to her mother, and how he had provided for them through the years. And how he must have suffered the long separation from those so dear to him. What mental agony must have been his. And suppose he had done what was wrong, he was her father. A sudden rush of affection swept upon her as she gazed upon that stern, sad face. The deep wrinkles upon his brow told their own silent tale. No matter