vestige of
bravado in Bostwick's composition and ignited all the hatred of his
nature. He hesitated for a moment, his lips parting sidewise as if for a
speech of defiance which his moral courage refused to indorse. Then, not
daring to refuse the horseman's command, he climbed aboard the car, the
motor of which had never ceased its purring.

"You'll pay for this!" he repeated.

The girl, now pale again and tremendously disturbed, was regarding
Bostwick with a new, cold light in her eyes--a light that verged upon
contempt. She had never seen this lack of courageous spirit in the man
before.

"But, Searle! You're not going--you're not really going, like this?"

It was the horseman who replied.

"You see, his time is precious. Also in his present state of mind he is
certainly unfit company for--well, for Dave, here, a man who loves the
pure white dove of peace." The station owner grinned. Van turned once
more to the car owner, adding, placidly: "There, there, driver----"

Bostwick broke in vehemently.

"I refuse to abandon these ladies! Your conduct is not only that of a
coward, it is----"

Van looked him over in mock astonishment.

"Say, Searle," he said, "don't you savvy you've lost your vote in this
convention? I told you to do these ladies the kindness to sweeten the
atmosphere with your absence. Now you hit the trail--and hit it quick!"

Bostwick looked helplessly at the girl.

"I am entirely unarmed," he said as before, though she knew there was a
pistol in the car. "This ruffian----"

The horseman cut him short.

"So long, Searle. I trust you'll meet congenial company on the road, but
I advise you even now to return the way you came."

Bostwick glared at him vindictively, but impotently. His jaw was set and
hard. A cold fire glittered in his eyes. How selfishly eager he was to
be started on his way not even the girl could have known. Moreover, some
sort of plan for the horseman's speedy punishment had taken possession of
his mind.

"Have courage, Beth," he said to the girl. "Have courage."

He speeded up his motor, dropped in his clutch, and the car slowly
started on its way.

CHAPTER II

INTO THE MOUNTAINS

Beth stood perfectly still beside the road, watching the auto round the
hill where it presently disappeared from view. The station owner
picked up a sliver of wood and began to whittle industriously. The
horseman remained with his bridle reins in hand, amusedly l