IATION 315

XIX. HOT UPON THE TRAIL 332

XX. BY THE LIGHT OF THE LAMP 349

XXI. AT WIDOW DANGLEY'S 364

XXII. THE PURSUIT OF RED MASK 381

XXIII. A RETURN TO THE LAND OF THE PHILISTINES 395

XXIV. ARIZONA 412

Illustrations

He Took Her in His Powerful Arms and Drew Her
to His Breast _Frontispiece_

A Moment Later He Beheld Two Horsemen
_Facing page_ 74

Left Alone with her Patient, She had Little to Do
but Reflect _Facing page_ 302

The Night-Riders

CHAPTER I

IN THE HANDS OF THE PHILISTINES

Forks Settlement no longer occupies its place upon the ordnance map of
the state of Montana. At least not _the_ Forks Settlement--the one
which nestled in a hollow on the plains, beneath the shadow of the
Rocky Mountains. It is curious how these little places do contrive to
slip off the map in the course of time. There is no doubt but that
they do, and are wholly forgotten, except, perhaps, by those who
actually lived or visited there. It is this way with all growing
countries, and anywhere from twenty to thirty years ago Montana was
distinctly a new country.

It was about '85 that Forks Settlement enjoyed the height of its
prosperity--a prosperity based on the supply of dry-goods and
machinery to a widely scattered and sparse population of small
ranchers and farmers. These things brought it into existence and kept
it afloat for some years. Then it gradually faded from existence--just
as such places do.

When John Tresler rode into Forks he wondered what rural retreat he
had chanced upon. He didn't wonder in those words, his language was
much more derogatory to the place than that.

It was late one afternoon when his horse ambled gently on to the green
patch which served Forks as a market-place. He drew up and looked
around him for some one to give him information. The place was quite
deserted. It was a roasting hot day, and the people of Forks were not
given to moving about much on hot days, unless imperative business
claimed them. As there were only two seasons in the year when such a
thing was likely to happen, and this was not one of them, no o