-a sinner. "You needn't think that I don't know what I have done,
Becky. I swept you along with me without a thought of anything serious
in it for either of us. It was just a game, sweetheart, and lots of
people play it, but it isn't a game now, it is the most serious thing in
life."

There is no eloquence so potent as that which is backed by genuine
passion. Becky coming down through the garden had been so sure of
herself. She had felt that pride would be the rock to which she would
anchor her resistance to his enchantments. Yet here in the garden----

"Oh, _please_," she said, and stood up.

He rose, too, and towered above her. "Becky," he said, hoarsely, "it's
the real thing--for me----"

His spell was upon her. She was held by it--drawn by it against her
will. Her cry was that of a frightened and fascinated bird.

He bent down. His face was a white circle in the dark, but she could see
the sparkle of his eyes. "Kiss me, Becky."

"I shall never kiss you again."

"I love you."

"Love," she said, with a sort of tense quiet, "does not kiss and run
away."

"My heart never ran away. I swear it. Marry me, Becky."

He had never expected to ask her. But now that he had done it, he was
glad.

She was swayed by his earnestness, by the thought of all he had meant
to her in her dreams of yesterday. But to-day was not yesterday, and
George was not the man of those dreams. Yet, why not? There was the
quick laughter, with its new ring of sincerity, the sparkling eyes, the
Apollo head.

"Marry me, Becky."

Beyond the pool which reflected the little star was the dark outline of
the box hedge, and beyond the hedge, the rise of the hill showed dark
against the dull silver of the sky--a shadow seemed to rise suddenly in
that dim brightness, the tall thin shadow of a man with a clear-cut
profile, and a high-held head!

Becky drew a sharp breath--then faced Dalton squarely. "I am going to
marry Randy."

His laugh was triumphant----

"Do you think I am going to let you? You are mine, Becky, and you know
it. _You are mine_----"

V

Randy, having made a record run with Little Sister to the Flippins', had
brought back Major Prime. When he returned Becky had disappeared. He
looked for her, knowing all the time that she had gone down into the
garden to meet Dalton. And he had brought Dalton back to her, he had
given him this opportunity to plead his cause, had given him the
incentive of a man of his kind to still pur