would
surprise the outlaw, and the achievement would be simple enough; at
the worst, there would be a duel. Uncle Dick had no fear over the
outcome. He believed himself quicker and surer with the rifle than
this scoundrel of half his years. At grips, of course he would have no
chance. But the affair would not come to grips. He would see to that.
He went to bed contentedly, and slept the peaceful sleep of wholesome
age, undisturbed by any bickerings of conscience.

It was while he was dressing, next morning, that a measure of prudence
occurred to Uncle Dick. During the period of his absence, it would be
well for Plutina to avoid risk by keeping in the cabin, with her rifle
at hand. There was no telling how audacious the moonshiner might
become in his rage over the ignominy to which the girl had subjected
him.

At the breakfast-table, he spoke sharply to Alvira, as she placed the
plate of fried ham and eggs before him.

"Tell Tiny, I'm a-wantin' her."

"Tiny hain't hyar yit," was the answer. "Hit's time she was."

"Whar's she gone!" Uncle Dick demanded, gruffly. He detested any
interruption of his plans.

"Tiny stayed over to the Widder Higgins's las' night," Alvira
explained. "Hit's time she come back."

Uncle Dick snorted with indignation.

"She didn't say nothin' to me 'bout stayin' over thar," he said
crossly.

"Nor to me, nuther," Alvira declared. "She never does beforehand. When
the Widder Higgins kind o' hangs on, Tiny jest stays, an' comes back
in the mornin'. She orter been 'ere afore now."

Uncle Dick pushed away the plate of food, half-eaten. Dread had fallen
on him suddenly. He tried to thrust it off, but the weight was too
heavy for his strength of will. Perforce he yielded to alarm for the
girl's safety. A great fear was upon him lest it be too late for the
warning he had meant to give. He growled a curse on his own folly in
not guarding against immediate attack by the outlaw. It was with small
hope of finding his apprehensions groundless that he set forth at
once, rifle in hand, for the cabin of the Widow Higgins. There, his
fears were confirmed. The old woman had seen nothing of Plutina, since
the short pause on the way to the post-office. Uncle Dick groaned
aloud over the fate that might have come on the girl. He told enough
to give the Widow Higgins some understanding of the situation, and
bade her go to his own house, there to remain and to comfort Alvira.
For himself, he would first sear