f the line."

"All right. I'll take the chance," Thornton said crisply, his voice as
cool as Pollard's had been. "I'll raise the money and I'll get the
papers made out. I'll bring them to you at Hill's Corners on the morning
of the twenty-fifth."

He reined Comet about, turning again toward the range, and gave him his
head. Pollard watched him a moment, then swinging about upon his heel,
went back toward the school house. Chase Harper's voice from within rose
above the fiddle and guitar, calling for the quadrille. Broderick came
forward to meet Pollard.

"Well?" he asked quickly. "You made him your proposition?"

"Yes."

"What did he say?" Broderick's voice and eyes alike were eager.

"He swallowed it whole," laughed Pollard.

Broderick laughed with him, and then suddenly, the laughter going out of
his voice, his hand shutting down tight upon Pollard's arm and drawing
him away further from the door, deeper into the shadows, his words
almost a whisper, he said:

"He danced with Winifred. You saw that?"

"Yes, damn him. That's what he came for. But I don't think that they
said anything...."

"Shut up, man! Don't you suppose I know what you mean? I don't know what
they said. It's up to you to find out. He gave her something, a little
parcel done up in paper. I don't know what. That's up to you, too. And,
what's more," and his voice grew harsh with the menace in it, "it's up
to you that they don't see each other again! I don't think that any harm
was done tonight. He went away red-mad. When I stopped him at the door
for a minute he hardly knew I was there. They didn't say a word to each
other the last half of their dance. She said something to him, and her
eyes were on fire when she said it, like his when he went out; that put
an end to their talk. They didn't even say good night."

"I've got a notion to send her away," muttered Pollard sullenly. "It was
a fool idea to drag a woman into this."

"Send her away ... now?" cried Broderick sharply. "You're the fool,
Pollard. She's the best bit of evidence we've got. Keep her here, but
for God's sake, man, keep her close! And let's jam this thing through to
a quick finish."

"You're right, I suppose, Broderick." Pollard ran his hand across a wet
forehead. "We've got to put the whole thing across in a hurry. Ten days,
and we'll wind it up.... What's Cole Dalton doing?"

"He's getting mighty hot under the collar," said Broderick grimly. "He's
got to get somebody i