noon
News of the tragedy had reached him , he said , and he was hurrying in to see if he could be of some assistance to Travers , in arranging for a lawyer , or in any way that might be practicable . Grey told him that as yet no formal charge had been laid against Travers ; that he was merely being held pending the finding of the coroner 's jury , and suggested that if Gardiner would accompany him to the inquest he might be able , not only to throw some light on Travers ' character , but also on his whereabouts on the night of the tragedy . To this Gardiner readily agreed . It was noon when the party reached the Arthurses ' ranch . Beulah counted them out with a field-glass while they were still miles down the valley , and a big table was set in the bunk-house where the cowboys were accommodated during the branding season . It was a matter of course that the men should be fed when they reached Arthurs ' . At intervals in the setting of the table the girl returned to her field-glass , until she was quite sure of the straight figure riding beside the mounted policeman .