a girl she was!"

Dale felt his face grow red. Indeed, this was strange
conversation for him.

"Honest, Al --" he began.

"Son, don't lie to an old man."

"Lie! I wouldn't lie to any one. Al, it's only men who live
in towns an' are always makin' deals. I live in the forest,
where there's nothin' to make me lie."

"Wal, no offense meant, I'm sure," responded Auchincloss.
"An' mebbe there's somethin' in what you say . . . We was
talkin' about them sheep your big cat killed. Wal, Milt, I
can't prove it, that's sure. An' mebbe you'll think me
doddery when I tell you my reason. It wasn't what them
greaser herders said about seein' a cougar in the herd."

"What was it, then?" queried Dale, much interested.

"Wal, thet day a year ago I seen your pet. He was lyin' in
front of the store an' you was inside tradin', fer supplies,
I reckon. It was like meetin' an enemy face to face.
Because, damn me if I didn't know that cougar was guilty
when he looked in my eyes! There!"

The old rancher expected to be laughed at. But Dale was
grave.