The Washington herald., 1912-08-11
By JAMES OLIVER cURWooD.
Author Of THE DANGER TRAIL"
THE HONOR OF THE BIG SHOWS" &c.

mare gave tremendous lunge forward
and stumbled upon her knees. and with
a gasp of horror Philip felt the saddle
girth slip as he swung to free himself
In the few terrible seconds that fol-
lowed Philip was conscious of two
things-that death was very near, .and
that Billinger was moment too late
Less than ten PAGES away the outlaw
was deliberately taking aim at HIM
while his own pistol arm was pinned
under the weight of his body. For q
breath he ceased to struggle, looking up
in frozen calnness at the man whose
finger was already crooked to FIRE
When shot suddenly rang out, it pass
ed through him in lightning fash
that it was the shot intended for him,
But he saw no movement in the out
laws arm; no smoke from his gun For
a moment the man sat rigid and stiff in
his saddle. Then his arm dropped His
revolver fell with clatter among the
stones. He slipped sidewise with low
groan and tumbled limp and lifeless
almost at Philips feet.
"Billinger-Billinger-"
The words came in sob of JOY from
Philips lips. Billinger had come in time
just in time! He struggled so that
he could turn his head and look down
the chasm. Yes. there was Billinger-
hundred yards away, hunched over his
saddle. Billinger, with his broken leg,
his magnificent courage, MS
With a wild cry Philip jerked him
self free Good God. it was not Bill
lingerl 1t was Isobel! She had slip
ped from the saddle-fe saw her as she
tottered few steps among the rocks
and then sank down among them. With
his pistol still in his hand he ran back
to where Billinger's horse was standing.
The girl was crumpled against the side
of bowlder, with her head in her arms
and she was crying. In an instant he
was beside her, and all that he had ever
dreamed of. all that he had ever hoped
for, burst from his lips as he caught
her and held her close against his breast.
Yet he never could have told what he
said. Only he knew that her arms were
clasped about his neck, and that, as she
pressed her face against him, she sob
bed over and over again something
that she loved him, loved him! Then
his eyes turned up the chasm. and what
he saw there made him bend low be-
hind the bowlder and brought strange
thrill into his voice
you will stay here-a little while, "
he whispered, running his fingers
through her shining hair There was a
tone of gentle command in his words
as he placed her against the rock Il
must go back for few minutes. There
is no danger-now."
He stopped and picked up the carbine
which had fallen from her hand. There
was one cartridge still in the breech.
placing his revolver in its holster he rose
above the rocks, ready to swing the rife
to his shoulder. Up where the outlaws
lay, a man was standing in the trail.
He was making no effort to conceal
himself. and did not see Philip until he
was within fifty PAGES of him. Even
then he did not show surprise Appar-
emily he was unarmed, and Philip drop
ped the mtzzle of his carbine. The man
motioned for him TO advance, standing
with a spread hand resting on either
hip. He was hatless and .coatless. His
hair was long. His face was covered
with a scraggly growth of red beard,
too short to hide his sunken cheeks. He
might have been a man half starved,
and vet there was strength in his bony
frame and his eyes were as keen as a
serpent's.
Got in just in time to miss the fun
after all" he said coolly. Queer game,
wasn't it, l was ahead of you up as
far as the water hole. Saw what hap
pened there"
Philips hand dropped on the but. OF
his revolver.
who are your" he asked.
Me- I'm Professionalism Black
stone, from over beyond the elbow. !
guess everybody for fifty miles round
knows ME And ! guess I'm the only
one who knows what's happened-and
why" He had stepped behind huge
rock that shut out the lower trail from
them and Philip followed, his hand still
on his revolver. They're both dead
added the stranger, signifying with a
nod of his head that he meant the out
laws. One of them was alive when
came up, but | ran my knife between
his ribs, and he's dead now"
1.-THE devilr cried Philip. half draw
ing his revolver at the fcrocious leer III
the others face
Wait" exclaimed the man, "and see
if I'm not right. The man who was re-
sponsib,e for the wreck back there is my
deadliest enemy-has been for years
and now I'm even up with him. And |
guess in the eyes of the law I've got the
right to it. What do you say"
"Go on" said Philip.
The snake-like eyes of the man burn
ed with a dull fame and yet he spoke
calmly.
He came out here from England
four years ago" he went on. HE was
forced to come. Understand? He was
such a devil back among his people
half criminal even then-that he was