Chapter I: Front Matter

IRONHEART

IRONHEART

BY
WILLIAM MACLEOD RAINE

AUTHOR OF
MAN-SIZE, TANGLED TRAILS,
THE FIGHTING EDGE, ETC.

GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS NEW YORK

Made in the United States of America

COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY THE CURTIS PUBLISHING COMPANY

COPYRIGHT, 1923, BY WILLIAM MACLEOD RAINE

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

TO

ARTHUR CHAPMAN

“But somehow when he’s gone, you think a heap
About his virtues--how he’s square and true;
If more come stringin’ in they’d make it cheap--
This friendship thing--and spoil it all for you.”

CONTENTS

I. TURFING IT 3

II. “DE KING O’ PROOSHIA ON DE JOB” 8

III. ONE OF THE LOST LEGION 15

IV. BETTY RIDES 19

V. TUG IS “COLLECTED” 31

VI. “NOTHING BUT A GAY-CAT ANYHOW” 35

VII. TUG SAYS, “NO, THANK YOU” 43

VIII. A RIFT IN THE LUTE 48

IX. UNDER FIRE 55

X. “ONE SQUARE GUY” 65

XI. MR. NE’ER-DO-WELL 72

XII. “IS THIS BIRD A PRISONER, OR AIN’T HE?” 80

XIII. A JOB 85

XIV. ONE BAD HOMBRE MEETS ANOTHER 89

XV. THE HOMESTEADER SERVES NOTICE 98

XVI. THE STAMPEDE 105

XVII. HIS PICTURE IN THE PAPER 111

XVIII. A HOT TRAIL 116

XIX. CAPTAIN THURSTON K. HOLLISTER 122

XX. A CLASH 130

XXI. IRREFUTABLE LOGIC 142

XXII. A STERN CHASE 147

XXIII. OUT OF THE BLIZZARD 157

XXIV. “COME ON, YOU DAMN BUSHWHACKER” 166

XXV. A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION 174

XXVI. BLACK IS SURPRISED 182

XXVII. THE MAN WITH THE BLEACHED BLUE EYES 189

XXVIII. BETTY HAS HER OWN WAY 196

XXIX. A CHILD OF IMPULSE 202

XXX. FATHOMS DEEP 209

XXXI. BETTY MAKES A DISCOVERY 214

XXXII. WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON 224

XXXIII. THE BLUEBIRD ALIGHTS AND THEN TAKES WING 230

XXXIV. BORN THAT WAY 237

XXXV. BIRDS OF A FEATHER 246

XXXVI. A STORMY SEA 252

XXXVII. HOLD THE FORT 262

XXXVIII. BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT 269

XXXIX. THE TURN OF A CROOKED TRAIL 277

XL. BETTY DISCOVERS WHY SHE IS YOUNG 284

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