BETTY TALKS FRANKLY Betty, however, had not been asleep.

After seeking her room she had heard the rapid beat of hoofs, and, looking out of her window, she had seen Calumet when he had raced from the ranchhouse in search of Taggart.

Still watching at the window, she had seen him returning; saw him disappear into the timber clump.
Some time later she had observed the Taggarts emerge and run as though their lives depended on haste.

She watched Calumet as he rode by her window to take the two horses to the corral, stared at him with fascinated eyes, holding her breath with horror as he walked from the ranchhouse to the timber clump with the pick and shovel on his shoulder; stood at the window with a great fear gripping her until he came back, still carrying the pick and shovel; watched him as he released the Taggart horses, drove them to the bend in the trail, and returned to the house.

His movements had been stealthy, but she heard him when he came into the house and mounted the stairs.