I lighted a second cigarette from the butt of the first and fell into a study.  Cortinez breathed heavily outside.  Otherwise the silence was as dead as the blackness of the night.  The smoke from my cigarettes floated lazily until it reached the influence of the hot air from the lamp; then it shot upward toward the ceiling.  The girl watched me from under her level brows, always with that air of controlled restraint I found so admirable.

“I’ve got it,” I said at last, “—­or at least I think I have.  Now listen to me, and believe what I’ve got to say.  Here are the facts:  first, your father and Hooper split partnership a while back.  Hooper took his share entirely in cash; your father took his probably part in cash, but certainly all of the ranch and cattle.  Get that clear?  Hooper owns no part of the ranch and cattle.  All right.  Your father dies before the papers relating to this agreement are recorded.  Nobody knew of those papers except your father and Hooper.  So if Hooper were to destroy those papers, he’d still have the cash that had been paid him, and an equal share in the property.  That plain?”

“Perfectly,” she replied, composedly.  “Why didn’t he destroy them?”

“Because they had been stolen by this man Brower I asked you about—­an ex-jockey of Hooper’s.  Brower held them for blackmail.  Unless Hooper came through Brower would record the papers.”

“Where do I come in?”

“Easy.  I’m coming to that.  But answer me this:  who would be your heir in case you died?”

“Why—­I don’t know!”

“Have you any kin?”

“Not a soul!”

“Did you ever make a will?”

“I never thought of such a thing!”

“Well, I’ll tell you.  If you were to die your interest in this property would go to Hooper.”

“What makes you think so?  I thought it would go to the state.”

“I’m guessing,” I acknowledged, “but I believe I’m guessing straight.  A lot of these old Arizona partnerships were made just that way.  Life was uncertain out here.  I’ll bet the old original partnership between your father and Hooper provides that in case of the extinction of one line, the other will inherit.  It’s a very common form of partnership in a new country like this.  You can see for yourself it’s a sensible thing to provide.”

“You may be right,” she commented.  “Go on.”

“You told me a while ago it was best to face any situation squarely.  Now brace up and face this.  You said a while ago that Hooper would not dare kill you.  That is true for the moment.  But there is no doubt in my mind that he has intended from the first to kill you, because by that he would get possession of the whole property.”

“I cannot believe it!” she cried.

“Isn’t the incentive enough?  Think carefully, and answer honestly:  don’t you think him capable of it?”

“Yes—­I suppose so,” she admitted, reluctantly, after a moment.  She gathered herself as after a shock.  “Why hasn’t he done so?  Why has he waited?”