st, playing it with a quiet courtesy and gentleness fitting well with the unconscious grace of his lithe body and with the kindliness softening his dark eyes. He told her of his ranch, of the cowbo

estion about herself or concerning her

above the jagged skyline where the trees stood upon the hill tops, she watched him with an interest that was not tinged with the vague suspicion of an hour ago. She saw that as he stood loungi

aughed at him, "I'd be in constant f

that he was getting used to

old her, "I'll go out and bring in

ugh the shadows cast by the trees about the cabin. She put on her hat, buckled on the spurs she had dropped on t

icle, a block of matches, maybe, which he had left behind. But there was nothing. She lifted the lamp in her

ughtfulness, and the shadow of his wide hat hid his face and eyes from her. In the black shade under the live oak before Harte's door he lifted his head quickly; here he came for an instant to a d

od still, his body seeming to merge into the great trunk of the tree. He did not answer. Again, head dow

k her as anything but the big free and easy man who had supped with her. She drew back a little, her underlip caught between her teeth as was her habit when undue stress was laid upon her nerves, her bre

ade her sick and dizzy. All of the time until now, even when appearances hinted at an inexplicable duplicity, she had felt safe with him, trusting to what her n

ore efficient method. Across the face, hiding it entirely, leaving only the eyes to glint through two rude slits at her, was a wide bandana h

sper. "Easy. You know what I want.... Look out for that lamp! Making it dark in

he panted, and foun

r dropping it when his hand brushed hers. Again she drew back from him hastily, her eyes running to the door.

whisper. "If I just had time to play with you ... I said you'd know what I want. And don't get funny with th

d vainly thought it could guard, a thick envelope. The man came quite close to her, so close that she felt his bre

unknown stranger names him seven kinds of fool. To think he could get across this way and sneak that little

res blazed up in her eyes and a h

coward!" she flung at

God, girl, you'd make an armful for a man! Soon to be queen of Dead Man's Alley, eh? I'll

e it! Take

to her. She jerked the parcel out from her dress and tossed it to him, her fingers fumbling with the button of the thin garment under which her heart was beating wildly. And the little "toy pistol" she could h

glanced swiftly at the contents and then stowed it away ins

wiftly. "But there's always

sult. Though she sought to strike at him he held her in utter helplessness. Slowly he lifted her face, a big hand under her chin. The lamp was close by; he blew down the chimney and save for the moonlight across the threshold it was dark in the cabin. With his other hand he lifted

under the talons of a night bird alighting in the big oak tree. But suddenly the arms about her relax

, the sombre wall of the forest land a few yards away. Her nausea of dread, her uncertainty, had passed. With never a glance behind her she ran down toward the barn. She knew that she would be afraid to go into the

s so certain that he had gone! For the instant she could not move but stood powerless to lift a hand, rooted to the spot. She noted that his face was unhidden now, his bla

" she found herself

his time looking for the horses. The corral wa

ad thought that she was fool enough to be beguiled from her knowledge of what he was. And then a fresh fe

were the clear eyes of perfect sanity.

horse moved nervously.

ueer note in his voice, harsh and ugly, wh

shone full in his face; she had never seen such a transformation,

me, Winifred Waverly, I am interfering in your business and advising you the best way I know