Lone would have preferred a chat with some one else, for this was a sharp-eyed, sharp-tongued man; but Al Woodruff stayed at the ranch and would know all the news, and even though he might give it an ill-natured twist, Lone would at least know what was going on.

Al hailed him with a laughing epithet.
"Say, you sure enough played hell all around, bringin' Brit Hunter's girl to the Sawtooth!" he began, chuckling as if he had some secret joke.

"Where'd you pick her up, Lone?
She claims you found her at Rock City.

That right ?" "No, it ain't right," Lone denied promptly, his dark eyes meeting Al's glance steadily.

"I found her in that gulch away this side.