"I--I believe you--but I can't believe such--such robbery possible," gasped Helen.
"It's simple as two an' two. Possession is law out here. Once Beasley gets on the ground it's settled. What could you do with no men to fight for your property?"
"But, surely, some of the men will stay with me?"
"I reckon. But not enough."
"Then I can hire more. The Beeman boys. And Dale would come to help me."
"Dale would come. An' he'd help a heap. I wish he was here," replied Carmichael, soberly. "But there's no way to get him. He's snowed-up till May."
"I dare not confide in uncle," said Helen, with agitation. "The shock might kill him. Then to tell him of the unfaithfulness of his old men--that would be cruel.... Oh, it can't be so bad as you think."
"I reckon it couldn't be no worse. An'--Miss Nell, there's only one way to get out of it--an' thet's the way of the West."
"How?" queried Helen, eagerly.
Carmichael lunged himself erect and stood gazing down at her. He seemed completely detached now from that frank, amiable cowboy of her first impressions. The redness was totally gone from his face. Something strange and cold and sure looked out of his eyes.
"I seen Beasley go in the saloon as I rode past. Suppose I go down there, pick a quarrel with him--an' kill him?"
Helen sat bolt-upright with a cold shock.
"Carmichael! you're not serious?" she exclaimed.
"Serious? I shore am. Thet's the only way, Miss Nell. An' I reckon it's what Al would want. An' between you an' me--it would be easier than ropin' a calf. These fellars round Pine don't savvy guns. Now, I come from where guns mean somethin'. An' when I tell you I can throw a gun slick an' fast, why I shore ain't braggin'. You needn't worry none about me, Miss Nell."
Helen grasped that he had taken the signs of her shocked sensibility to mean she feared for his life. But what had sickened her was the mere idea of bloodshed in her behalf.
"You'd--kill Beasley--just because there are rumors of his--treachery?" gasped Helen.
"Shore. It'll have to be done, anyhow," replied the cowboy.
"No! No! It's too dreadful to think of. Why, that would be murder. I--I can't understand how you speak of it--so--so calmly."
"Reckon I ain't doin' it calmly. I'm as mad as hell," said Carmichael, with a reckless smile.