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almost as if he had banished the cause of his revenge； as if vengeance
itself had become a simple stroke of destiny。 Gledware had chosen his
possession； and the Indian was Fate's answer。
〃Beautiful one；〃 he heard Gledware say； speaking in an altered tone；
〃all that is in the futurebut see what I have brought you； this is for today。
It's yours； dearlet me see it around your neck with the sun full upon it〃
Red Feather turned his head； curiously。
Gledware held outstretched a magnificent diamond necklace which
shot forth dazzling rays as it swung from his eager fingers。
Annabel uttered a smothered cry of delight as the iridescence filled her
eyes。 She looked across the water toward the pagoda…shaped club…house
where her mother stood； faintly defined as a speck of white against the
green wall…shingles of the piazza。 It seemed that it needed this glance to
steady her nerves。 Edgerton was forgotten。 She reached out her hand。 And
then； perplexed at the necklace being suddenly withdrawn； she looked up。
She caught a glimpse of Gledware's face； and her blood turned cold。
That face was frozen in horror。 At the turning of the boatman's head；
he had instantly recognized under the huge…brimmed hat； the face of his
enemy as if brought back from the grave。
There was a moment's tense silence； filled with mystery for her； with
indescribable agony for him； with simple waiting for the Indian。 Annabel
turned to discover the cause of Gledware's terror； but she saw no malice；
no threat； in the boatman's eyes。
Gledware ceased breathing； then his form quivered with a sudden
inrush of breath as of a man emerging from diving。 His eyes rolled in his
head as he turned about scanning the shore； glaring at Edgerton's distant
boat。 Why had he come unarmed？ How could he have put faith in Red
Kimball's assurances？ He tortured his brain for some gleam of hope。
〃This is all I have；〃 he shrieked； as if the Indian's foot was already
upon his neck。 〃This is all I have。〃 He flung the necklace into the water。 〃It
was a lie about the California ranchit's a lie about all my propertyI've
got nothing； Annabel！ I sold the last bit to get you the necklace； but I
shouldn't have done that。 Now it's gone。 I have nothing！〃
The Indian rose slowly。 The oars slipped down and floated away in the
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flashing stream of the sun's rays。
Annabel； realizing that the Indian； despite his impassive countenance；
threatened some horrible catastrophe； started up with a scream。 Edgerton
had already turned toward them； alarmed at sound of Gledware's terror。 He
bent to the oars； comprehending only that Annabel was in danger。
〃Edgerton！〃 she shrieked blindly。 〃Edgerton！ Edgerton！ Edgerton！〃
Gledware crouched at her feet； crying beseechingly； 〃I swear I have
nothingnothing！ I sold everythinggave it awayleft itnothing in all
the world！ I'm willing to beg； to starveI don't want to own anythingI
only want to liveto live。。。。 My God！ TO LIVE。。。〃
Red Feather did not utter a word。 But with the stealthy lightness and
litheness of a panther； he stepped over the seat and moved toward
Gledware。
Then Gledware； pushed to the last extremity； despairing of the
interposition of some miraculous chance； was forced back upon himself。
With the vision of an inherent coward he saw all chances against him； but
with the desperation of a maddened soul； he threw himself upon the
defensive。
Red Feather had not expected to see him offer resistance。 This show of
clenched teeth and doubled fists suddenly enraged him； and the old lust of
vengeance flamed from his eyes。 Hat and disguising coat were cast aside。
For a moment his form； rigid and erect； gleamed like a statue of copper cut
in stern relentless lines； and the single crimson feather in his raven locks
matched； in gold； the silver brightness of his upraised blade。
The next moment his form shot forward； his arm gripped Gledware
about the neck； despite furious resistance； and both men fell into the water。
The violent shock given to the boat sent Annabel to her knees。
Clutching the side she gazed with horrified eyes at the water in her wake。
The men had disappeared； but in the glowing white path cut across the
lake by the sun； appeared a dull red streak that thinned away to faint
purple and dim pink。 She watched the sinister discoloration with
fascinated eyes。 What was taking place beneath the smooth tide？ Or was it
all over？ Had Red Feather found a rock to which he could cling while he
drowned himself with his victim？ Or had their bodies been caught in the
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tangled branches of a submerged forest tree？ It was one of the mysteries of
the Ozarks never to be solved。
She was still kneeling； still staring with frightened eyes； still
wondering； when Edgerton Compton rowed up beside her。
〃He said he had nothing；〃 she stammered； as he helped her to rise。 〃He
said he had nothing。。。。 How true it is！〃 Edgerton gently lifted her to his
skiff； then stepped in beside her。 He； too； was watching the water for the
possible emergence of a ghastly face。
Annabel began trembling as with the ague。 〃Edgerton！。。。 He said it was
all a lieabout his propertyand so it was。 Everything is a lie except
this。。。〃
She clung to him。
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CHAPTER XXVI
JUST A HABIT
When Bill Atkins with an air of impenetrable mystery invited Wilfred
Compton to a ride that might keep him from his bride several days； the
young man guessed that Willock had been found。 Lahoma； divining as
much； urged Wilfred to hasten； assured him that she enjoyed the publicity
and stirring life of the Mangum hotel and expressed confidence that
should she need a friend； Mizzoo would help her through any difficulty。
So Wilfred rode away with Bill； and Willock was not mentioned。
Bill was evidently in deep trouble； and when Wilfred and he had let
themselves down into the s