by
the menacing muzzle of a small automatic pistol in Mrs. Goring's firm,
tremorless hand.

"Don't move a pace farther. I know you only too well, Mr. Leyden. The
day has long gone by when I could be fooled by you. My advice is that
you go back to your ship and to Java. There is nothing here for you.
Your schemes have all gone awry."

"Then your tale has been told! Vixen!"

"Vixen, perhaps," and a low, mellow laugh accompanied the acceptance of
the epithet. "At least you will find me one, if you persist. I have not
mentioned your name to any one, yet. But I tell you now that each day
you stay in Celebes adds to the weight about your neck that shall
finally drag you down. There is one stronger than I keeping your
account, and, have no false hopes, it will be paid in full. I warn you
to go because of what I once thought you. Be wise in time and go."

"Yes, I'll go,--to the Mission and find out what lies you have spread.
For I don't believe you have let that chance slip, no matter what you
tell me." Leyden's tone was truculent; yet he respected the warning of
that small, steady pistol. "It is you who should take warning and go,
Juliana. For as sure as you cross my plans, you shall suffer."

"I can suffer no more," returned the woman bitterly. "As for the
Mission, I can save you the trouble, for there is nobody there. You had
better go and see Gordon. He'd like to talk to you, now that he has
sobered."

"Yes, Gordon!" snarled Leyden. "Another of your pretty tricks. Where is
Gordon? He's not at the post. I tried to enter there and was refused
admittance."

"Naturally. It isn't your post, you know. But as you've tried, that too
will be wasted time, won't it? So you'd better go to your ship, as I
suggested at first." Mrs. Goring suddenly closed the interview by
walking away from Leyden, keeping her face towards him, however, and
retaining firm hold on her pistol. She almost brushed Barry as she
passed, and as she glided swiftly and lightly along the Mission path,
Leyden swung away with a curse in the opposite direction.

Barry hesitated for a few seconds; he wanted to go to the Mission, too;
but he believed Mrs. Goring had spoken truly when she said there was
nobody there, and the only other place he could imagine where Miss
Sheldon might be was at the tree-dwelling. To that secret bower he
hurried, to be again halted by warnings from unseen guardians in the
jungle fastnesses. This time he did not press his intention