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them。 Helen dragged forward a chair for the sheepman； and he sank into it。
From its depths he looked up with his rare； sweet smile。
〃I've heard about it；〃 he told her； in a low voice。 〃I've heard how y'u
fought for my life all day。 There's nothing I can say。 I owed y'u everything
already twice； and now I owe it all over again。 Give me a lifetime and I
couldn't get even。〃
Helen's swift glance swept over Nora and the foreman。 They were in a
dark alcove； oblivious of anybody else。 Also they were in each other's
arms frankly。 For some reason wine flowed into the cream of Helen's
cheeks。
〃Do you have to 'get even'？ Among friends is that necessary？〃 she
asked shyly。
〃I hope not。 If it is； I'm sure bankrupt Even my thanks seem to stay at
home。 If y'u hadn't done so much for me； perhaps I could tell y'u how
much y'u had done But I have no words to say it。〃
〃Then don't；〃 she advised。
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〃Y'u're the best friend a man ever had。 That's all I can say。〃
〃It's enough； since you mean it； even though it isn't true；〃 she answered
gently。
Their eyes met； fastened for an instant； and by common consent
looked away。
As it chanced they were close to the window； their shadows reflected
on the blind。 A man； slipping past in the street on horseback； stopped at
sight of that lighted window； with the moving shadows； in an
uncontrollable white fury。 He slid from the saddle； threw the reins over the
horse's head to the ground； and slipped his revolver from its holster and
back to make sure that he could draw it easily。 Then he passed springily
across the road to the hotel and up the stairs。 He trod lightly； stealthily； and
by his very wariness defeated his purpose of eluding observation。 For a
pair of keen eyes from the hotel office glimpsed the figure stealing past so
noiselessly； and promptly followed up the stairway。
〃Hope I don't intrude at this happy family gathering。〃
Helen； who had been pouring a glass of cordial for the spent and
wounded sheepman； put the glass down on the table and turned at sound of
the silken； sinister voice。 After one glance at the vindictive face； from the
cold eyes of which hate seemed to smolder； she took an instinctive step
toward her lover。 The cold wave that drenched her heart accompanied an
assurance that the man in the doorway meant trouble。
His sleek smile arrested her。 He was standing with his feet apart； his
hands clasped lightly behind his back； as natty and as well groomed as was
his wont。
〃Ah； make the most of what ye yet may spend； Before ye； too； into the
Dust descend； Dust into Dust； and under Dust to lie； Sans Wine； sans Song；
sans Singer； andsans End！〃
he misquoted； with a sneer； and immediately interrupted his irony to
give way to one of his sudden blind rages。
With incredible swiftness his right hand moved forward and up；
catching revolver from scabbard as it rose。 But by a fraction of a second
his purpose had been anticipated。 A closed fist shot forward to the salient
jaw in time to fling the bullets into the ceiling。 An arm encircled the
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outlaw's neck； and flung him backward down the stairs。 The railing broke
his fall； and on it his body slid downward； the weapon falling from his
hand。 He pulled himself together at the foot of the stairs； crouched for an
upward rush； but changed his mind instantly。 The young officer who had
flung him down had him covered with his own six…shooter。 He could hear
footsteps running toward him； and he knew that in a few seconds he would
be in the hands of the soldiers。 Plunging out of the doorway； the desperado
vaulted to the saddle and drove his spurs home。 For a minute hoofs
pounded on the hard； white road。 Then the night swallowed him and the
echo of his disappearance。
〃That was Bannister of the Shoshones and the Tetons；〃 the girl's white
lips pronounced to Lieutenant Beecher。
〃And I let him get away from me；〃 the disappointed lad groaned。
〃Why； I had him right in my hands。 I could have throttled him as easy。 But
how was I to know he would have nerve enough to come rushing into a
hotel full of soldiers hunting him？〃
〃Y'u have a very persistent cousin； Mr。 Bannister；〃 said McWilliams；
coming forward from the alcove with shining eyes。 〃And I must say he's
game。 Did y'u ever hear the like？ Come butting in here as cool as if he
hadn't a thing to do but sing out orders like he was in his own home。 He
was that easy。〃
〃It seems to me that a little of the praise is due Lieutenant Beecher。 If
he hadn't dealt so competently with the situation murder would have been
done。 Did you learn your boxing at the Academy； Lieutenant？〃 Helen
asked； trying to treat the situation lightly in spite of her hammering heart。
〃I was the champion middleweight of our class；〃 Beecher could not
help saying boyishly； with another of his blushes。
〃I can easily believe it；〃 returned Helen。
〃I wish y'u would teach me how to double up a man so prompt and
immediate；〃 said the admiring foreman。
〃I expect I'm under particular obligations to that straight right to the
chin； Lieutenant；〃 chimed in the sheepman。 〃The fact is that I don't seem
to be able to get out anything except thanks these days。 I ought to send my
cousin a letter thanking him for giving me a chance to owe so much
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kindness to so many people。〃
〃Your cousin？〃 repeated the uncomprehending officer。
〃This desperado； Bannister； is my cousin；〃 answered the sheepman
gravely。
〃But if he was your cousin； why should he wantto kill you？〃
〃That's a long story； Lieutenant。 Will y'u hear it now？〃
〃If you feel strong enough to tell it。〃
〃Oh； I'm strong enough。〃 He glanced at Helen。 〃Perhaps we had better
not tire Miss Messiter with it。 If y'u'll come to my room〃
〃I should like； above all things； to hear it again；〃 interrupted that
young woman promptly。
For the man she loved had just come back to her from the brink of the
grave and she was still reluctant to let him out of her sight。