n man who might even now be dead. He might have
passed, with the pain of uncertainty clouding his last moments as to
the success or failure of her venture.

With that burden on her heart it was difficult to listen to apologies
and explanations. She knew that Bud would have burned his body to a
crisp last night if need be in the effort to save her from a similar
fate, but that only irritated her. She had not called for help. She
had not needed help and this rush of volunteers to her rescue was,
after all, only a denial of the principle for which she so militantly
fought; the postulate that when she played a man's game she wished to
be treated as a man, asking no favors.

Brent and Halloway overheard a little of what was said, for the two
voices rose in inflection, under the urge of his earnestness and her
feeling.

"I don't act pi'zen mean when I'm sober, Alexander--an' I strives not
ter drink, knowin' full well thet hit plum crazes me-- Hit don't seem
like no common thirst-- Hit comes on me like a plague and hit masters
me ther same as spells or fits----. God, He knows I'd es lief hev
raised my hand ergin my own daddy, ef I hed one, es erginst yore paw--I
war frenzied."

"I don't know what made ye do hit, but I knows what ye done, Bud," said
Alexander and her rich voice trembled under the tautness of her effort
at control. "Ef a man kain't holp goin' mad like a dog--an' seekin'
ter slay folks, I reckon he----" It was on her tongue to say that he
ought to pay the mad-dog's penalty but she checked herself shortly and
went on with less cruelty, "I reckon he's a right dangerous sort of
feller ter hev 'round."

"All I asks, Alexander," he pleaded, "air thet ye gives me ther chanst
ter make amends. Ef I feels ther cravin' masterin' me ergin, I'll go
ter town an' git ther police ter lock me up in ther jail-house an' keep
me thar, tell I comes back ter my senses."

"Hit hain't a thing ye kin handily make amends fer," she reminded him,
"but I've done pledged myself ter let hit go unavenged and I knows too,
thet I'm beholden ter ye fer last night. None-the-less----" The color
paled from her cheeks and she shook her head. "None-the-less until I
gits back home--an' knows whether my paw is livin' or dead----" her
words came very slowly and with an effort, "I kain't say thet thar
won't be black hatred in my heart erginst ye."

He nodded somewhat miserably. "No, I don't hardly reckon ye kin tutor
yore feelin's n