Swiftly then Ina told the story of Setter’s visit to Ben and the fight exactly as she had heard it related by Bill Sneed. Roused as she was, with faculties intensely keen, she was quick to see a subtle effect of the narrative upon the sheriff.

“Your dad didn’t tell it that way,” he said, quietly.

“No, I dare say he wouldn’t. But I’ve told you word for word,” replied Ina, forcibly. “Get hold of Bill Sneed. Hear it from him. Setter will swear Bill is in with Ben. But Bill never saw Ben Ide until the other day. He’s straight. Setter couldn’t corrupt him.”

“Wal, now, Miss Ina, I reckon I’m to understand you’re a secret deputy of mine?” he queried, with a droll shrewd smile.

Ina’s heart bounded at the significance of his words. “I am—if you’ll have me,” she replied, in breathless surprise.

“Wal, we’ll shake on that…. Reckon I’m proud to have you. An’ I’m not underratin’ your value. A smart woman beats a man all hollow for figgerin’ things you can’t see. Now give me your angle on this Less Setter. Remember any confidences will never pass me.”

“Very well, then. First I’ll give you my personal angle, as you call it,” returned Ina, warmly. “Less Setter is a bad man, morally I mean. I felt that before I knew it. He insulted Hettie Ide once—frightened her terribly another time. Where women are concerned he is brazen, unscrupulous, treacherous. His advances toward me were at first smooth, flattering. Then when he found he made no headway with me, so to speak, he changed his tactics. Briefly he made violent love to me—waylaid me on all possible occasions. It wasn’t safe for me to go anywhere alone.”

“Miss Ina!” exclaimed the sheriff, incredulously. “You mean—he would have laid hold of you?”

“My dear Mr. Strobel,” replied Ina, almost impatiently, “I’m telling you as plainly as I know how. He did lay hold of me, more than once. But I’m strong—and, well, I got away from him.”

She thought no less of this man that his bronze face grew like iron and he cursed under his breath.

“Lately Setter’s attitude toward me has changed somewhat,” went on Ina. “There’s a hint of possession in it. I think he means marriage now. At first that never entered his mind.”

Strobel’s mute acceptance of these statements left no doubt in Ina’s mind that she had been wise to confide in him. Intuitively she felt more of his stand than he realized on the moment.

“Now as to what I think,” she hurried on, “you must take for what it’s worth. Dad’s sudden rise from hard times if not actual poverty—his opportunities to make money have gone to his head. Dad knows farming and that’s all. He’s simple, trusting, enthusiastic as a boy. Setter has gotten around him. They’re in all kinds of deals. Dad has furnished money, paper, collateral, and Setter has furnished the brains. No doubt to his own profit! It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Setter has dad involved in really crooked deals. Certainly he’s got dad tied up. Pretty soon he’s going to try to make dad force me to marry him.”