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face； the hungry； flaring eyes。
〃I I haven't thanked you yet for bringing Bo home；〃
she whispered。
〃Nell； never mind that；〃 he said； in surprise。 〃If you must
why； wait。 I've got to catch up with that cowboy。〃
〃No。 Let me thank you now；〃 she whispered； and； stepping
closer； she put her arms up； meaning to put them round his
neck。 That action must be her self…punishment for the other
time she had done it。 Yet it might also serve to thank him。
But； strangely； her hands got no farther than his breast；
and fluttered there to catch hold of the fringe of his
buckskin jacket。 She felt a heave of his deep chest。
〃I I do thank you with all my heart；〃 she said；
softly。 〃I owe you now for myself and her more than I
can ever repay。〃
〃Nell； I'm your friend；〃 he replied； hurriedly。 〃Don't talk
of repayin' me。 Let me go now after Las Vegas。〃
〃What for？〃 she queried； suddenly。
〃I mean to line up beside him at the bar or wherever
he goes；〃 returned Dale。
〃Don't tell me that。 _I_ know。 You're going straight to meet
Beasley。〃
〃Nell； if you hold me up any longer I reckon I'll have to
run or never get to Beasley before that cowboy。〃
Helen locked her fingers in the fringe of his jacket
leaned closer to him； all her being responsive to a bursting
gust of blood over her。
〃I'll not let you go；〃 she said。
He laughed； and put his great hands over hers。 〃What 're you
sayin'； girl？ You can't stop me。〃
〃Yes； I can。 Dale； I don't want you to risk your life。〃
He stared at her； and made as if to tear her hands from
their hold。
〃Listen please oh please！〃 she implored。 〃If you go
deliberately to kill Beasley and do it that will be
murder。 。 。 。 It's against my religion。 。 。 。 I would be
unhappy all my life。〃
〃But； child； you'll be ruined all your life if Beasley is
not dealt with as men of his breed are always dealt with
in the West；〃 he remonstrated； and in one quick move he had
freed himself from her clutching fingers。
Helen； with a move as swift； put her arms round his neck and
clasped her hands tight。
〃Milt； I'm finding myself；〃 she said。 〃The other day； when I
did this you made an excuse for me。 。 。 。 I'm not
two…faced now。〃
She meant to keep him from killing Beasley if she sacrificed
every last shred of her pride。 And she stamped the look of
his face on her heart of hearts to treasure always。 The
thrill； the beat of her pulses； almost obstructed her
thought of purpose。
〃Nell； just now when you're overcome rash with
feelin's don't say to me a word a 〃
He broke down huskily。
〃My first friend my Oh Dale； I KNOW you love me！ she
whispered。 And she hid her face on his breast； there to feel
a tremendous tumult。
〃Oh； don't you？〃 she cried； in low； smothered voice； as his
silence drove her farther on this mad； yet glorious purpose。
〃If you need to be told yes I reckon I do love you；
Nell Rayner；〃 he replied。
It seemed to Helen that he spoke from far off。 She lifted
her face； her heart on her lips。
〃If you kill Beasley I'll never marry you；〃 she said。
〃Who's expectin' you to？〃 he asked； with low； hoarse laugh。
〃Do you think you have to marry me to square accounts？
This's the only time you ever hurt me； Nell Rayner。 。 。 。
I'm 'shamed you could think I'd expect you out of
gratitude 〃
〃Oh you you are as dense as the forest where you
live；〃 she cried。 And then she shut her eyes again； the
better to remember that transfiguration of his face； the
better to betray herself。
〃Man I love you！〃 Full and deep； yet tremulous； the words
burst from her heart that had been burdened with them for
many a day。
Then it seemed； in the throbbing riot of her senses； that
she was lifted and swung into his arms； and handled with a
great and terrible tenderness； and hugged and kissed with
the hunger and awkwardness of a bear； and held with her feet
off the ground； and rendered blind； dizzy； rapturous； and
frightened； and utterly torn asunder from her old calm；
thinking self。
He put her down released her。
〃Nothin' could have made me so happy as what you said。〃 He
finished with a strong sigh of unutterable； wondering joy。
〃Then you will not go to to meet 〃
Helen's happy query froze on her lips。
〃I've got to go！〃 he rejoined； with his old； quiet voice。
〃Hurry in to Bo。 。 。 。 An' don't worry。 Try to think of
things as I taught you up in the woods。〃
Helen heard his soft； padded footfalls swiftly pass away。
She was left there； alone in the darkening twilight；
suddenly cold and stricken； as if turned to stone。
Thus she stood an age…long moment until the upflashing truth
galvanized her into action。 Then she flew in pursuit of
Dale。 The truth was that； in spite of Dale's' early training
in the East and the long years of solitude which had made
him wonderful in thought and feeling； he had also become a
part of this raw； bold； and violent West。
It was quite dark now and she had run quite some distance
before she saw Dale's tall； dark form against the yellow
light of Turner's saloon。
Somehow； in that poignant moment； when her flying feet kept
pace with her heart； Helen felt in herself a force opposing
itself against this raw； primitive justice of the West。 She
was one of the first influences emanating from civilized
life； from law and order。 In that flash of truth she saw the
West as it would be some future time； when through women and
children these wild frontier days would be gone forever。
Also； just as clearly she saw the present need of men like
Roy Beeman and Dale and the fire…blooded Carmichael。 Beasley
and his kind must be killed。 But Helen did not want her
lover； her future husband； and the probable father of her
children to commit what she held to be murder。
At the door of the saloon she caught up with Dale。
〃Milt oh wait！' wait！〃 she panted。
She heard him curse under his breath as he turned。 They were
alone in the yellow flare of light。 Horses were champing
bits and drooping before the rails。
〃You go back！〃 ordered Dale； sternly。 His face was pale； his
eyes were gleaming。
〃No！ Not till you take me or carry me！〃 she replied；
resolutely； with all a woman's positive and inevitable
assurance。
Then he laid hold of her with ungentle hands。 His violence；
especially the look on his face； terrified Helen； rendered
her weak。 But nothing could have shaken her resolve。 She
felt victory。 Her sex； her love； and her presence would be
too much for Dale。
As he swung Helen around； the low hum of voices inside the
saloon suddenly rose to sharp； hoarse roars； accompanied by
a scuffling of feet and crashing of violently sliding chairs
or tables。 Dale let go of Helen and leaped toward the door。
But a silence inside； quicker and stranger than the roar；
halted him。 Helen's heart contracted； then seemed to cease
beating。 There was absolutely not a perceptible sound。 Even
the horses appeared； like Dale； to have turned to statues。
Two thundering shots annihilated this silence。 Then quickly
came a lighter shot the smash of glass。 Dale ran into the
saloon。 The horses began to snort； to rear； to pound。 A l