Ruth's startled gaze swept over the riders, then came back to him. She
did not know what was the matter; she only knew that he was in
trouble, and that she was siding with him against the rest. In the one
moment their eyes met she sent him her full assurance of compassion
and sympathy. It was the same message a little girl had sent years
ago over a ship's railing to a wretched stowaway on the deck below.
The men rode on, and she stood holding to the gate and looking after
them.
"Here comes Mr. Sid Gray," said Rachel. The approaching rider drew
rein when he saw Ruth and dismounted.
"Tell me what's happened!" she cried.
He hitched his horse and opened the gate. He, too, showed signs of a
hard night.
"May I come in a moment to the fire?" he asked.
She led the way to the dining-room and ordered coffee.
"Now tell me," she demanded breathlessly.
"It's a mixed-up business," said Gray, holding his numb hands to the
blaze. "We left here early in the night and worked on a wrong trail
till midnight. Then a train-man out at the Junction gave us a clue,
and we got a couple of bloodhounds and traced Wilson as far as
Ellersberg."
"Go on!" said Ruth, shuddering.
"You see, a rumor got out that the judge had died.
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