nxious to renew your acquaintance."

The young man stared fearlessly into the eyes of Graham Brenchfield,
wealthy rancher, cattleman, grain merchant and worthy Mayor of
Vernock. Then his lips parted in a strange smile, as he threw up his
head.

He turned to Eileen.

"Guess I've _got_ to go now. I have my marching orders."

"Come on;--enough of this--git!" put in Brenchfield roughly, stepping
up in a threatening manner.

The fugitive ignored the interruption.

"Good-bye, Miss--Miss Pederstone--and, remember this from a convict
who doesn't count:--as surely as there is a wolf-note in some violins,
so surely is there a wolf-note in some men. Strike the wolf-note and
you set the devils in hell jumping."

In the next moment he passed out at the door and down the dusty
highway leading to Vernock.

Graham Brenchfield stood looking after him until the night shut him
out.

Eileen Pederstone stared in front of her with eyes that saw no outward
thing.

At last Brenchfield broke the silence.

"It was rather unwise--foolish--harbouring such a man as that; and
your father from home."

"Yes?" queried Eileen, with a slow intonation of resentment.

"Unprotected as you were!"

"We girls would have little need for protection if you men were all as
gentlemanly as he was. He seemed to be an old acquaintance of yours.
Who is he?"

Brenchfield shrugged his shoulders.

"Pshaw!--that kind would claim acquaintance with the very devil
himself. You don't suppose I ever met him before. He is a dangerous
criminal escaped from Ukalla."

"He told me so," put in Eileen, as if tired of the interview, "and he
seemed quite annoyed when I refused to believe the _dangerous
criminal_ part."

"But the police tell me he _is_. It was only for your sake that I let
him go."

Brenchfield tried to turn her to the seriousness of her misdemeanour.
"For the sake of your good name, you had no right admitting him. You
know what Vernock is like for gossip. You know the construction likely
to be placed on your action."

Eileen drew herself up haughtily.

"You'll excuse me, Mr. Brenchfield! When did you earn the right to
catechise Eileen Pederstone?"

He changed suddenly and his peculiarly strong and handsome face
softened.

"I am sorry. I did not mean it in that way, Eileen. And this is no
time to speak, but--but I hope--some day----"

The girl held up her hand, and he stopped.

He was tall, full-chested and tremendously athletic of fi