your family, but I never dreamed I'd have the joy of planting any of
you in it first, even temporarily. Did you rest well? What I should have
done was to fill in, tread down, and leave you at the bottom."

Jameson retreated a few steps. The Harvester laughed and advanced the
same distance.

"Now then," he said, "explain what you are doing on my premises, a few
hours after your threat, and armed with another revolver before I could
return the one I took from you this afternoon. You must grow them on
bushes at your place, they seem so numerous. Speak up! What are you
doing here?"

There was no answer.

"There are three things it might be," mused the Harvester. "You might
think to harm me, but you're watched on that score and I don't believe
you'd enjoy the result sure to follow. You might contemplate trying to
steal Ruth's money again, but we'll pass that up. You might want to go
through my woods to inform yourself as to what I have of value there.
But, in all prob-ability, you are after me. Well, here I am. Go ahead!
Do what you came to!"

The Harvester stepped toward the lake bank and Jameson, turning to watch
him, exposed a face ghastly through its grime.

"Look here!" cried the Harvester, sickening. "We will end this right
now. I was rather busy this afternoon, but I wasn't too hurried to take
that little weapon of yours to the chief of police and tell him where
and how I got it and what occurred. He was to return it to you
to-morrow with his ultimatum. When I have added the history of to-night,
reinforced by another gun, he will understand your intentions and know
where you belong. You should be confined, but because your name is the
same as the Girl's, and there is of your blood in her veins, I'll give
you one more chance. I'll let you go this time, but I'll report you, and
deliver this implement to be added to your collection at headquarters.
And I tell you, and I'll tell them, that if ever I find you on my
premises again, I'll finish you on sight. Is that clear?"

Jameson nodded.

"What I should do is to plump you squarely into confinement, as I could
easily enough, but that's not my way. I am going to let you off, but you
go knowing the law. One thing more: Don't leave with any distorted ideas
in your head. I saw Ruth the day she stepped from the cars in Onabasha
and I loved her. I wanted to court and marry her, as any man would the
girl he loves, but you spoiled that with your woman killing brutality.