in' to say!" And the girl
caught her breath sharply, for she recognized the woman as Hester Harvey.

It was some time before Hester reached the broad-shouldered man's side.
There was a stain in each of her cheeks, but outwardly, at least, she
showed none of the excitement that had seized the crowd; her movements
were deliberate and there was a resolute set to her lips. She got through,
finally, and halted beside the big man, the crowd closing up behind her.
She was swallowed in it, lost to sight.

"Lift her up, Lefingwell!" suggested a man on the outer fringe. "If she's
got anything to say, let us all hear it!" The suggestion was caught up,
insistently.

"If you ain't got no objections, ma'am," said the big man. He stooped at
her cold smile and swung her to his shoulder. She spoke slowly and
distinctly, though there was a tremor in her voice:

[Illustration: "YOU MEN ARE BLIND. CORRIGAN IS A CROOK WHO
WILL STOP AT NOTHING."]

"Trevison did not kill Braman--it was Corrigan. Corrigan was in my room in
the _Castle_ last night just after dark. When he left, I watched him from
my window, after putting out the light. He had threatened to kill Braman.
I watched him cross the street and go around to the rear of the bank
building. There was a light in the rear room of the bank. After a while
Braman and Corrigan entered the banking room. The light from the rear room
shone on them for an instant and I recognized them. They were at the safe.
When they went out they left the safe door open. After a while the light
went out and I saw Corrigan come from around the rear of the building,
recross the street and come into the _Castle_. You men are blind. Corrigan
is a crook who will stop at nothing. If you let him injure Trevison for a
crime that Trevison did not commit you deserve to be robbed!"

Lefingwell swung her down from his shoulder.

"I reckon that cinches it, boys!" he bellowed over the heads of the men
nearest him. "There ain't nothin' plainer! If we stand for this we're a
bunch of cowardly coyotes that ain't fit to look Trevison in the face! I'm
goin' to help him! Who's comin' along?"

A chorus of shouts drowned his last words; the crowd was in motion, swift,
with definite purpose. It melted, streaming off in all directions, like
the sweep of water from a bursted dam. It broke at the doors of the
buildings; it sought the stables. Men bearing rifles appeared in the
street, mounting horses and congregating in front of th