She broke off with a gasp, and both women started and turned pale, as a harsh, metallic rattle rang through the room.
"What is it?" whispered Mary, half rising.
"The telephone! I can't get used to that strange rattle. Answer it, quickly!"
Springing up, Mary flew across the room and took down the receiver.
"Hello," she said tremulously. "Who is--_Oh, Buck!_" Her eyes widened and the blood rushed into her face. "I'm so glad! But where are you?... I see. No, they're not here.... I know I did, but I thought--I wish now I'd told you. We--we're frightened.... What?.... No, not yet; but--but there's some one hiding in the loft over the harness-room.... I don't know, but I saw a face at the window.... Yes, everything's locked up, but--"
Abruptly she broke off and turned her head a little, the blood draining slowly from her face. A sound had come to her which struck terror to her heart. Yet it was a sound familiar enough on the range-land--merely the beat of a horse's hoofs, faint and far away, but growing rapidly nearer.
"Wait!" she called into the receiver, "Just a--minute."
Her frightened eyes sought Mrs. Archer and read confirmation in the elder woman's strained attitude of listening.
"Some one's coming," the girl breathed. Suddenly she flung herself desperately at the telephone. "Buck!" she cried. "There's some one riding up.... I don't know, but I'm--afraid.... Yes, do come quickly.... What's that?"
With a little cry she rattled the hook and repeatedly pressed the round button which operated the bell. "Buck! Buck!" she cried into the receiver.
The thud of hoofs came clearly to her now; it was as if the horse was galloping up the slope from the lower gate.
"What's the matter?" demanded Mrs. Archer, in a hoarse, dry voice.
With a despairing gesture the girl dropped the receiver and turned a face drained of every particle of color.
Mrs. Archer caught her breath sharply, but made no other sound. In the silence that followed they could hear the horse pull up just beyond the veranda, and the sound of a man dropping lightly to the ground. Then came very faintly the murmur of voices.
To the two women, standing motionless, with eyes riveted on the door, the pause that followed lengthened interminably. It seemed as if that low, stealthy, sibilant whispering was going on forever. Mrs. Archer held her little pearl-handled toy with a spasmodic grip which brought out a row of dots across her delicate knuckles, rivaling her face in whiteness. Mary Thorne's gray eyes, dilated with emotion, stood out against her pallor like deep wells of black. One clenched hand hung straight at her side; the other rested on the butt of the Colt, lying on the stand below the useless instrument.