But he hasn't proved on it. The land adjoins Dale's.
Dale wants it--he has always wanted it. And he means to have it. He
also wants Peggy Nyland.
"Dale is a beast! You heard Peggy tell how he has hounded her. It is
true; she has told me about it more than once. Dale hasn't told, of
course; but it is my opinion that Dale put the Double A cattle into
Ben's corral so that he could hang Ben. With Ben out of the way he
could take the Nyland property--and Peggy, too."
"Why did he use Double A cattle?"
Mary paled. "Don't you see the hideous humor of that? He knows Peggy
Nyland and I are friends. Dale is ruthless and subtle. Can't you
understand how a man of that type would enjoy seeing me send my
friend's brother to his death--and the brother innocent?"
"Why didn't you tell Dale the cattle did not belong to you?"
Mary smiled faintly. "I couldn't. To do so would have involved Ben
Nyland in more trouble. Dale would have got one of his friends to
claim them. And then I could have done nothing--having disclaimed the
ownership of the stock.
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