l her being responsive to a bursting gust of blood over her.

"I'll not let you go," she said.

He laughed, and put his great hands over hers. "What 're you sayin',
girl? You can't stop me."

"Yes, I can. Dale, I don't want you to risk your life."

He stared at her, and made as if to tear her hands from their hold.

"Listen--please--oh--please!" she implored. "If you go deliberately
to kill Beasley--and do it--that will be murder.... It's against my
religion.... I would be unhappy all my life."

"But, child, you'll be ruined all your life if Beasley is not dealt
with--as men of his breed are always dealt with in the West," he
remonstrated, and in one quick move he had freed himself from her
clutching fingers.

Helen, with a move as swift, put her arms round his neck and clasped her
hands tight.

"Milt, I'm finding myself," she said. "The other day, when I
did--this--you made an excuse for me.... I'm not two-faced now."

She meant to keep him from killing Beasley if she sacrificed every last
shred of her pride. And she stamped the look of his face on her heart
of hearts to treasure always. The thrill, the beat of her pulses, almost
obstructed her thought of purpose.

"Nell, just now--when you're overcome--rash with feelin's--don't say to
me--a word--a--"

He broke down huskily.

"My first friend--my--Oh Dale, I KNOW you love me! she whispered. And
she hid her face on his breast, there to feel a tremendous tumult.

"Oh, don't you?" she cried, in low, smothered voice, as his silence
drove her farther on this mad, yet glorious purpose.

"If you need to be told--yes--I reckon I do love you, Nell Rayner," he
replied.

It seemed to Helen that he spoke from far off. She lifted her face, her
heart on her lips.

"If you kill Beasley I'll never marry you," she said.

"Who's expectin' you to?" he asked, with low, hoarse laugh. "Do you
think you have to marry me to square accounts? This's the only time you
ever hurt me, Nell Rayner.... I'm 'shamed you could think I'd expect
you--out of gratitude--"

"Oh--you--you are as dense as the forest where you live," she cried.
And then she shut her eyes again, the better to remember that
transfiguration of his face, the better to betray herself.

"Man--I love you!" Full and deep, yet tremulous, the words burst from
her heart that had been burdened with them for many a day.

Then it seemed, in the throbbing riot of her senses, that she was
lifted and swung into his ar