, for which I am very thankful. So far, sir, he has acted in a
courteous and gentlemanly manner toward me!" said Alice Terry. "What
he may have been heretofore concerns me not, as you must know."

"He is always that--smooth-tongued, until he has lured his victim to
ruin!" retorted Ned, bitterly. "Beware of him, lady, for he is a
rattlesnake in the disguise of a bright-winged butterfly."

Fearless Frank grew livid at this last thrust. Forbearance is virtue,
sometimes, but not always. In his case the Scarlet Boy felt that he
could bear the taunts of the miner no longer.

"You are a liar and a dastard!" he cried, fiercely. "Come on if you
wish satisfaction, and I'll give it to you!"

"I am ready, always, sir. I challenged you first; you have the
choice!" retorted Ned, as cool as ever, while his enemy was all
trembling with excitement.

"Pistols, at fifty yards; to be fired until one or the other is dead!"
was the prompt decision.

"Good! Young lady, you will necessarily have to act as second for both
of us. If I drop, leave my body where I fall, and it will be picked up
by friends. If he falls, I will ride on to Deadwood, and send you out
help to carry him in."

Without delay the distance was guessed at, and each of the young men
rode to position. Miss Terry, the beautiful second, took her place at
one side of the gulch, midway between the antagonists, and when all
was to readiness she counted:

"One!"

The right hands of the two youths were raised on a level, and the
gleaming barrel of a pistol shone from each.

"Two!"

There was a sharp click! click! as the hammers of the weapons were
pulled back at full cock. Each click meant danger or death.

Harris was very white; so was Fearless Frank, but not so much so as
the young woman who was to give the signal.

"Three! _Fire!_" cried Alice, quickly; then, there was a flash, the
report of two pistols, and Ned Harris fell to the ground without a
groan.

McKenzie ran to his side, and bent over him.

"Poor fellow!" he murmured, rising, a few moments later--"poor Ned.
_He is dead!_"

It was Harris' request to be left where he fell. Accordingly he was
laid on the grass by the roadside, his horse tethered near by, and
then, accompanied by Alice, Justin McKenzie set out to Deadwood.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote C: Living characters]

CHAPTER XI.

THE POCKET GULCH MINES--INVADERS OF THEM.

We see fit to change the scene once more back to the pocket gulch-