rstand a soldier's
duty if it meant the blood of a parent. If he refused to act, the
gambler could break him, while every effort he made to protect Gale
would but increase the other's satisfaction. There was no chance of the
trader's escape. Stark held him in his hand. His followers would do his
bidding. It was a desperate affair. Was it impossible, the Lieutenant
wondered, to move this man from his purpose?

"Have you thought of Necia? She loves Gale. What effect will this have
on her?"

"Damn her! She's more his brat than mine. I want John Gaylord!"

At this a vicious frenzy overtook Burrell, and he thought of the man
behind yonder door, whom he had forgotten until these words woke
something savage in him. Well! Why not? These two men had stalked each
other clear into the farthest places, driven by forces that were older
than the hills. Who was he to stand between such passions? This was
ordained, it was the course of nature, the clash of elements, and this
was a fair battle-ground, so why should he undertake to stop a thing
decreed?

The gambler's words rang in his ears--"I want John Gaylord"--and before
he knew what he was doing he had answered: "Very well. I'll give him to
you," and crossed quickly to the door of his bedroom and flung it open.
On the threshold he paused stock-still. The place was empty; a draught
sucked through the open window, flirting with the curtain and telling
the story of the trader's exit.

"If you're looking for your coat, it's here," he heard Stark say. "Get
into it, and we'll go for him."

The Lieutenant's mind was working fast enough now, in all conscience,
and he saw with clear and fateful eyes whither he was being led, at
which a sudden reckless disregard for consequences seized him. He felt
a blind fury at being pulled and hauled and driven by this creature,
and also an unreasoning anger at Gale's defection. But it was the
thought of Necia and the horrible net of evil in which this man had
ensnared them both that galled him most. It was all a terrible tangle,
in which the truth was hopelessly hidden, and nothing but harm could
come from attempting to unravel it. There was but one solution, and
that, though fundamental and effective, was not to be expected from an
officer of the law. Nevertheless, he chose it, for Ben Stark was too
potent a force for evil to be at large, and needed extermination as
truly as if he were some dangerous beast. He determined to finish this
thing her