grudgingly.

"What in Heaven's name brought you back after you had once got away?"
Weaver asked.

The girl looked at Keller without answering.

"I reckon I can tell you that, seh," explained that young man. "She
figured you would jump on me as the guilty party. It got on her
conscience that she had left an innocent man to stand for it. I
shouldn't wonder but she got to seeing a picture of you-all hanging me
or shooting me up. So she came back to own up, if she saw you had caught
me."

Weaver nodded. "That's the way I figure it, too. Gamest thing I ever saw
a woman do," he said in an undertone to Keller, with whom he was now
standing a little apart.

The latter agreed. "Never saw the beat of it. She's scared stiff, too.
Makes it all the pluckier. What will you do with her?"

"Take her along with me back to the ranch."

"I wouldn't do that," said the young man quickly.

"Wouldn't you?" Weaver's hard gaze went over him haughtily. "When I want
your advice, I'll ask you for it, young man. You're in luck to get off
scot-free yourself. That ought to content you for one day."

"But what are you going to do with her? Surely not have her imprisoned