in every pulse.

From out of the gulf a hand appeared and groped for a hold. Weaver
stepped noiselessly to the edge and looked down. A torn and bleeding
face looked up into his.

"Good heavens, Keller!"

Buck was on his knees instantly. He caught the ranger's hand with both
of his and dragged him up. The rescued man sank breathless on the ground
and told his story in gasped fragments.

"--caught on a ledge--hung to some bushes growing there--climbed up--lay
still when Healy looked over--a near thing--makes me sick still!"

"It was a millionth chance that saved you--if it was a chance."

"Where's Healy?"

Weaver pointed to the body. "We fought it out. The luck was with me."

A faint, glad, terrified little cry startled them both. Phyllis was
staring with dilated eyes at the man restored to her from the dead. He
got up and walked across to her with outstretched hands.

"My little girl."

"Oh, Larry! I don't understand. I thought----"

He nodded. "I reckon God was good to us, sweetheart."

Her arms crept up and round his neck. "Oh, boy--boy--boy. I thought
you were--I thought you were----"

She broke down, but he understood. "Well, I'm not," he laughed happily.
Catching sight of Buck's grim, set face, Larrabie explained what scarce
needed an explanation. "You'll have to excuse us, I reckon. It's my day
for congratulations."

Phyllis freed herself and walked across to her other lover. "My friend,
I know the answer now," she told him.

"I see you do."

"Don't--please don't be hurt," she begged. "I have to care for him."

The hard, leathery face softened. "I lose, girl. But who told you I was
a bad loser? The best man wins. I've got no kick to register."

"Not the best man," Keller corrected, shaking hands with his rival.

Phyllis summed it up in woman fashion: "My man, whether he is the best
or not. It's just that a girl goes where her heart goes."

Weaver nodded. "Good enough. Well, I'll be going. I expect you'll not
miss me."

He turned and went down the hill alone. At the foot of it he met Jim
Yeager.

"What about Brill?" the younger man asked quickly.

"He'll never rustle another cow," Buck answered gravely. "I killed him
on the top of Point o' Rocks after an even break."

"Duke has cashed in. Game to the last. Wouldn't say a word to implicate
his pals. But Tom has confessed everything. The boys slipped a noose
over his head, and he came through right away.

"Says he and Duke and Irwin hel