And you know what Dale's
scheme was, don't you? Has she told you?" At Sanderson's nod, Owen
went on:
"If you were to let it be known that you are not Will Bransford, Dale
would get the property as sure as shooting. I know his plan. I
overheard him and a man named Dave Silverthorn talking it over one
night when I was prowling around Dale's house. The window of Dale's
office was wide open, and I was crouching outside.
"They've got a man ready to come on here to impersonate Bransford.
They would prove his claim and after he was established he would sell
out to them. They have forged papers showing that Mary is an adopted
daughter--though not legally. Don't you see that if you don't go on
letting everybody think you are Bransford, Mary will lose the ranch?"
Sanderson shook his head. "I'd be gettin' deeper an' deeper into it
all the time--in love an' in trouble. An' when she'd find out how I'd
fooled her all the time she'd hate me."
"Not if you save the ranch for her," argued the little man. "She'd
feel badly about her brother, maybe, but she'd forgive you if you
stayed and beat Dale at his own game.
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