Joe Lorey, I'll
save you from them men. I'll sw'ar I saw you leave the stable afore th'
fire begun." He moved his eyes from one of the accusing faces to the
other, terrified. "I'll make ye both rich if you'll never speak that
name ag'in!"

[Illustration: "I'M STANDIN' FACE TO FACE WITH MY OWN FATHER'S
MURDERER--LEM LINDSAY"]

"Your weight in gold would make no differ!" Joe cried menacingly. "Lem
Lindsay, it air Heaven's work that's given you into my hands!" He went
toward him slowly, menacingly, with his strong fingers working with
desire to clutch his shrinking throat. "It air Heaven's will as you
should meet your fall through Ben Lorey's son!"

Holton, desperate, gathered courage for a last effort to escape from the
net which he had woven to his own undoing. With a quick movement he drew
from his belt, where his long coat had concealed its presence, hitherto,
a gleaming knife, and, with it upraised, rushed at Joe viciously. "I'm a
free man, yet," he cried, "an' I'm a-goin' to stay free!"

Joe, alert, calm-eyed, cool-witted, waited for him with a hand upraised
to catch his wrist, with muscles braced to meet the fierce attack.

Madge rushed to the window, calling loudly: "Colonel! Mr. Frank!"

But Holton and Joe Lorey were, by that time, locked in a desperate grip
and struggling with the energy of men battling for their lives. Twisting
and straining, each striving with the last ounce of energy within him to
get the better of the other, they plunged across the room and out into
the hall.

Just as Frank and the Colonel hurried in, a shot was heard and then a
heavy fall. An instant later Joe came to the door.

"Heaven's will are done!" he said, quite simply.

Layson rushed toward him, but paused, aghast, looking off through the
open door. "Joe, you've killed him!" he exclaimed.

"An' I had a right!" said Joe, now strangely calm. "When he killed my
father it were ordained that he should fall by my hands. I ain't afeared
to stand my trial."

"The men outside have promised," Layson said, dismayed by this new and
terrible complication, "that you shall have a fair trial on the other
charge. They've gone, now, for the sheriff. But this charge," he looked
toward the door which led into the hall, "will be more serious!"

"I can clear him of 'em both," said Madge. "I'll sw'ar th' killin' was
in self-defense; I'll sw'ar that Holton owned, before me, that he saw
Joe leave th' stable afore th' fire."

"He saw him!" exc