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She stopped； stared at him； then taking him by the hand led him
like a child back to his couch。 〃Well；〃 she said； in half…savage
explanation； 〃I told you the truth when I said the girl wasn't at
the cabin last night； and that I didn't know her。 What are you
glowerin' at？ No！ I haven't lied to you； I swear to God； except
in one thing。 Did you know what that was？ To save him I took
upon me a shame I don't deserve。 I let you think I was his
mistress。 You think so now； don't you？ Well； before God to…day
and He may take me when He likesI'm no more to him than a
sister！ I reckon your Nellie can't say as much。〃
She turned away； and with the quick； impatient stride of some
caged animal made the narrow circuit of the opening； stopping a
moment mechanically before the sick man； and again； without
looking at him； continuing her monotonous round。 The heat had
become excessive； but she held her shawl with both hands drawn
tightly over her shoulders。 Suddenly a wood…duck darted out of
the covert blindly into the opening； struck against the blasted
trunk； fell half stunned near her feet； and then； recovering；
fluttered away。 She had scarcely completed another circuit
before the irruption was followed by a whirring bevy of quail； a
flight of jays； and a sudden tumult of wings swept through the
wood like a tornado。 She turned inquiringly to Dunn； who had
risen to his feet； but the next moment she caught convulsively at
his wrist； a wolf had just dashed through the underbrush not a
dozen yards away； and on either side of them they could hear the
scamper and rustle of hurrying feet like the outburst of a summer
shower。 A cold wind arose from the opposite direction； as if to
contest this wild exodus； but it was followed by a blast of
sickening heat。 Teresa sank at Dunn's feet in an agony of terror。
〃Don't let them touch me！〃 she gasped； 〃keep them off！ Tell me；
for God's sake； what has happened！〃
He laid his hand firmly on her arm； and lifted her in his turn to
her feet like a child。 In that supreme moment of physical
danger； his strength； reason； and manhood returned in their
plenitude of power。 He pointed coolly to the trail she had
quitted； and said；
〃The Carquinez Woods are on fire！〃
CHAPTER X
The nest of the tuneful Burnhams； although in the suburbs of
Indian Spring； was not in ordinary weather and seasons hidden
from the longing eyes of the youth of that settlement。 That
night； however； it was veiled in the smoke that encompassed the
great highway leading to Excelsior。 It is presumed that the
Burnham brood had long since folded their wings； for there was no
sign of life nor movement in the house as a rapidly…driven horse
and buggy pulled up before it。 Fortunately； the paternal Burnham
was an early bird； in the habit of picking up the first stirring
mining worm； and a resounding knock brought him half dressed to
the street door。 He was startled at seeing Father Wynn before
him； a trifle flushed and abstracted。
〃Ah ha！ up betimes； I see； and ready。 No sluggards hereha；
ha！〃 he said heartily； slamming the door behind him； and by a
series of pokes in the ribs genially backing his host into his
own sitting…room。 〃I'm up； too； and am here to see Nellie。
She's here； ehof course？〃 he added； darting a quick look at
Burnham。
But Mr。 Burnham was one of those large； liberal Western husbands
who classified his household under the general title of 〃woman
folk；〃 for the integers of which he was not responsible。 He
hesitated； and then propounded over the balusters to the upper
story the direct query
〃You don't happen to have Nellie Wynn up there； do ye？〃
There was an interval of inquiry proceeding from half a dozen
reluctant throats； more or less cottony and muffled； in those
various degrees of grievance and mental distress which indicate
too early roused young womanhood。 The eventual reply seemed to
be affirmative； albeit accompanied with a suppressed giggle； as
if the young lady had just been discovered as an answer to an
amusing conundrum。
〃All right；〃 said Wynn； with an apparent accession of boisterous
geniality。 〃Tell her I must see her； and I've only got a few
minutes to spare。 Tell her to slip on anything and come down；
there's no one here but myself； and I've shut the front door on
Brother Burnham。 Ha； ha！〃 and suiting the action to the word； he
actually bundled the admiring Brother Burnham out on his own
doorstep。 There was a light pattering on the staircase； and
Nellie Wynn； pink with sleep； very tall； very slim； hastily
draped in a white counterpane with a blue border and a general
classic suggestion； slipped into the parlor。 At the same moment
her father shut the door behind her； placed one hand on the knob；
and with the other seized her wrist。
〃Where were you yesterday？〃 he asked。
Nellie looked at him； shrugged her shoulders； and said； 〃Here。〃
〃You were in the Carquinez Woods with Low Dorman； you went there
in disguise； you've met him there before。 He is your clandestine
lover； you have taken pledges of affection from him； you have〃
〃Stop！〃 she said。
He stopped。
〃Did he tell you this？〃 she asked； with an expression of disdain。
〃No； I overheard it。 Dunn and Brace were at the house waiting
for you。 When the coach did not bring you； I went to the office
to inquire。 As I left our door I thought I saw somebody
listening at the parlor windows。 It was only a drunken Mexican
muleteer leaning against the house； but if HE heard nothing； I
did。 Nellie； I heard Brace tell Dunn that he had tracked you in
your disguise to the woodsdo you hear？ that when you pretended
to be here with the girls you were with Lowalone； that you wear
a ring that Low got of a trader here； that there was a cabin in
the woods〃
〃Stop！〃 she repeated。
Wynn again paused。
〃And what did YOU do？〃 she asked。
〃I heard they were starting down there to surprise you and him
together； and I harnessed up and got ahead of them in my buggy。〃
〃And found me here；〃 she said； looking full into his eyes。
He understood her and returned the look。 He recognized the full
importance of the culminating fact conveyed in her words； and was
obliged to content himself with its logical and worldly
significance。 It was too late now to take her to task for mere
filial disobedience； they must become allies。
〃Yes；〃 he said hurriedly； 〃but if you value your reputation； if
you wish to silence both these men； answer me fully。〃
〃Go on；〃 she said。
〃Did you go to the cabin in the woods yesterday？〃
〃No。〃
〃Did you ever go there with Low？〃
〃No； I do not know even where it is。〃
Wynn felt that she was telling the truth。 Nellie knew it； but as
she would have been equally satisfied with an equally efficacious
falsehood； her face remained unchanged。
〃And when did he leave you？〃
〃At nine o'clock； here。 He went to the hotel。〃
〃He saved his life； then； for Dunn is on his way to the woods to
kill him。〃
The jeopardy of her lover did not seem to affect the young girl
with alarm； although her eyes betrayed some interest。
〃Then Dunn has gone to the woods？〃 she said thoughtfully。
〃He has；〃 replied