ters are not for women. Our Vigilante justice may be
rough and ready, but it fits the time and place. Anyhow, we keep the
neighbourhood so that the worst class of characters give it a wide
berth. You should not have crossed its path, my Barbara. It was not safe
for you; and for all that you have hazarded, he is not safe; they'll get
him yet."

"No, they will not; you will not betray him?"

"No. To betray him would be betraying you! Not for his sake, but for
yours, I'll hold my tongue. But what will he do? He cannot stay here."

"He need not. He can have my brother's horse, my brother's overcoat and
hat. He can take the trail up the gully under cover of the night, or
with the first streak of dawn."

"But your brother? Tom Thorne's a pretty hard citizen; what will he
say?"

"I don't know. And, Rick, I don't care! I've taken this on myself, and
I'll see it through. I know Tom may be hard--and Hatty, too. The worst
they can do is to turn me out of the house. And if they do----"

"You'll come to _mine_! Be mistress of all I have--queen of my home--my
_wife_!"

* * * * *

As the first pale pearly streak of dawn was stealing over the
snow-capped peaks of the Sierras, Oliver Desmond bowed his head--as he
had never bent it to mortal man--before the woman who had risked so much
for his safety, and raised her hand to his lips, as if it were the hand
of a shrined saint. And Colonel Jeff stood by, grim and silent. For good
or ill, Rick Jeffreys was thorough. He had promised, and he would keep
his word.

[Illustration: "HE RAISED HER HAND TO HIS LIPS."]

"You are the best and bravest of women," Desmond said. "Forget that I
have ever crossed your path. I shall cross it no more. But I shall never
forget."

Barbara is Colonel Jeff's happy and idolized wife to-day; and between
her and her husband there is no forbidden subject--not even that of
Oliver Desmond. For the faith between them is perfect; Rick knows that
whoever may have ruled her yesterdays--he and he only holds Barbara's
heart to-day, and the shadow of Oliver Desmond has passed from off her
life for ever. It was long after that eventful night that they heard how
his ill-starred career had come to an untimely close; but his last words
to Barbara were true; he crossed _her_ path no more--and I for my part
think that he never forgot.

_The Royal Humane Society._

II.

CAPTAIN BRYAN MILMAN.

The following is a narrative o