The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-03-05

' N~eAAN NNs
 Master nothin'? am your slave. But kiss me. Settle it forever" How slowly she lifted her pale face, with eyes like black starsl In | 5lle sweet fire of her lips Rock gained his hearts desire. Then she lay in his arms, her face hidden, while he gazed out into the stormy night, across the black Pass to the dim flares along the battlements of the range His vic- tory brought happiness and sorrow com mingled
 Now, Trueman explain what you meant by my--falsehood to all?" she asked, presently.
 Are you quite prepared2" he re- turned, gravely. Sure it's not easy to rush from joy to trouble"
 She sat up, startled, with hands nervously releasing their hold. All about her expressed doubts, mis- givings, but she had no inkling of what he had to reveal.
 "Thiry, you are keeping Ash's and your fathers secret from all. :"
 "Trueman.' she cried, as if her own mind had deceived her ears.
 qThey are cattle thieves. Beef thieves. So are your brothers Range, Scoot and Boots, along with them"
 l on ,,,4, fxodt x,a,, bpou;on che a1 most screamed, and slipped to her knees before him.
 4'Hpsht Not so loud! You'll wake some one" he said, sternly, placing a firm hand over her mouth. Get up off your knees" l But she had only leaned forward, clutchlng him, peering up into his face.
 "Truenan, how do--you know?" she gasped, convulsively.
 T suspected it when I first came. I found signs. Quicklime! That made me suspicious. Slagels we'll lis half full of hides. Sure those lhides have not the Preston brand. Then over near where they butchered last I came on the same boot track that I'd seen down near the slaughterhouse. trailed that track. It Led under culvert. There I found hundreds of hides, tied up in burlap sacks. Most were old, but some were new opened one, That hide had Half Moon brand ! Down here on your barn one day, after the dance, measured Ash's boot track. It was the same as that one I'd trailed. But for real proof, heard your Dad and Ash talkin together. One night I hap pened to be out, thinkin' of you, watchin' like tonight Your father and Ash came out, right to the log where I sat. lay down. And II heard them talk about this They gave 1t all away"
 "Oh, you were a spy, she burst out, in hot agonized words.
 I'm afraid was" , T knew-it would come. Ii will--lkill me- she walled. hrokenly t"Oh, to make love to melville Iyou were spying on my brother Imy father"
 Little girl, I told you to speak low. Reckon 1t does look pretty load to you. But it's not so bad as if lnokr--en far as I'm cOflcerned But, Thiry, you're in this secret and you would be held guilty in some degree in court, if your part lin it was found out. And let me tell you Ash would hold no secret. He would drag even you into it."
 ''Oh, mol Mol Nol" "IIe would. And there's the dan , lger for you"
 "Court-Danger? M My God . you mean they'll be arrested-and . I will be dragged in with them?' , Reckon that Is liable to hap
 pen,' he replied, wanting, stern as q the task was. to impose upon hel s once and for all the peril of the situation.
 f "Yo'd betray us?" Swift as g i striking snake her hand darted out
 and snatched his gun as it rested against his thigh. Leaning back
 she extended 1t with both hands 2 rTn kill you"