back here?" Eve questioned him sharply, a faint
hope stirring her.

"Yep, sis, straight here." He laughed silently while he watched her
with feline glee. "An' jest as fast as I could get, too. You see, I
guessed I might miss Doc Crombie."

"Doc Crombie?" The girl's eyes dilated. She stood like one petrified.

"Sure. You see I couldn't give Will away because of Peter. But I told
him wher' the stolen cattle wer'. An' that I'd seen the rustlers at
work, an' if he got busy he'd get 'em right off, an'----"

But he got no further; Eve had him by the shoulders in a clutch that
chilled his heart to a maddening fear. His eyes stared, and he gasped
as though about to faint.

"You told him that--you--you? You never did! You couldn't! You
wouldn't dare! Oh, God, and to think! Elia, Elia! Say you didn't.
You'll never--you'll never get Peter's gold!"

The woman was beside herself. She had no idea of what she was
saying. All she knew was that Doc Crombie had been told of Will's
hiding-place, and, for all she knew, might be on his way there now.
Discovery was certain; and discovery meant----

But suddenly she realized the boy's condition. He was on the verge of
collapse from sheer dread of physical hurt. His face was ashen, and
his eyes were almost starting from their sockets. In an agony of
remorse and fear she released him and knelt before him.

"I'm sorry, Elia. I didn't mean to hurt you. But--but you haven't told
Doc?" she cried piteously. "Say you haven't, dear. Oh, God!"

She abruptly buried her face in her hands as though to shut out the
horrid sight of this thing her brother had done.

Elia recovered quickly, but his vicious glee had dropped to a sulky
savagery.

"You're a fule, sis," he said, in a sullen tone. "I sure did it for
you--an' 'cos I hate him. But say," he cried, becoming suddenly
suspicious. "I didn't tell Doc who it was. I kep' my promise to Peter.
I sure didn't give him away. So why for do you raise sech a racket?
An' anyway if he hangs you won't be married to him no more. You----"

He broke off, listening. The sound of a horse galloping could be
plainly heard. The noise abruptly ceased, and the boy looked up with
the light of understanding in his eyes.

"One o' the boys, sis. One o' Doc's boys. Mebbe----"

But he was interrupted by the opening of the outer door, and Peter
Blunt strode in.

The expression of the man's face was sufficient explanation of his
unceremonious visit. He made no preten