t before
it cleared the holster they had grappled and were stumbling about the
room. Lute, watching from without, considered this the moment for
intervention and he appeared in the door with drawn revolver shouting
out for an end to the struggle.

Unfortunately it was only his loyal adherent who heeded his voice, and
the other, freed from the grip that had so far held him in chancery
stabbed twice before the object of his attack collapsed. Then only,
Lute fired. Before that moment he must have fired through his loyal
man to reach his traitor. The hesitation was fatal, for the shot
missed its target and in a moment more, Lute, too fell under the knife.

The traitorous survivor stood for a moment, panting heavily, then,
still unsteady of step from his homicidal exertions, picked up the
saddle-bags, ransacked them with frenzied haste and plunged out of the
door with the package that bore the spots of red sealing wax.

At any time the others might come to investigate and they would find a
scene of double murder.

He did not stop to open the package. That could await a more opportune
moment. Just now the vital thing was flight.

When, at the end of much panic-stricken haste and the spurring of
terror he judged it safe to strike a match, he ripped open the bundle,
over which so many men and one woman had fought--and in it discovered
only tightly packed newspapers and a few small pieces of broken
brick--added to give it the plausibility of weight.

Halloway in accordance with his plan of leaving the stage before his
presence lost dramatic effect, did not offer to go all the way back to
Shoulder-blade Creek with Alexander. He accompanied her only to a
point where there was no longer danger, and then said farewell to her,
leaving her still under the escort of Brent, Bud Sellers and O'Keefe.

"I reckon," he announced abruptly when they stood on the crest of a
steep hill, "I'll turn back hyar. I don't dwell over yore way an' thar
hain't no use fer me ter fare further. I'll bid ye farewell--an' mebby
some day all us fellers'll meet up again."

Alexander was surprised, and a sharp little pang of disappointment shot
through her breast. She did not analyze the emotion, but, just then
and with no reason that emerged out of the subconscious, she remembered
the instant when she had hung to the sycamore branch and he had swept
her in and pressed her close. She only nodded her head and spoke
gravely. "I reckon we'll