panic to
get to McCoppet for much-needed aid. "Such an utterly unheard of
affront as this----"

"Glen! run and find Mr. Van Buren!" Beth broke in excitedly. "Don't
let him go, Mr. Pratt!"

Lawrence had reached his outer office and was almost at the door. Beth
was hastening after, with Glen at her heels. All were abruptly halted.

Van and the sheriff appeared in the door, before which idlers were
passing. Beth was wild with joy.

"Van," she cried, "Oh, Mr. Van Buren, I'm sure this man has cheated you
out of your claim! We ran the line ourselves--my brother, Mr. Pratt,
and I--yesterday--we finished yesterday! We found the claim is not
inside the reservation! My money was used--I'm sure for bribery! But
they've got to give you back your claim, if it takes every penny I've
got! I was sending Glen to let you know. I asked Mr. Lawrence to
confess! You won't let him go! You mustn't let him go! I am sure
there's something dreadful going on!"

It was a swift, impassioned speech, clear, ringing, honest in every
word. It thrilled Van wondrously, despite the things that had
been--her letter, and subsequent events. He all but lost track of the
business in hand, in the light of her sudden revelations. He did not
answer readily, and Lawrence broke out in protestation.

"It's infamous!" he cried. "If anyone here except a woman had
charged--had been guilty of all these outrageous lies----"

Half a dozen loiterers had halted at the door, attracted by the shrill
high tones of his voice.

"That's enough of that, Lawrence," Van interrupted quietly. "Every
word of this is true. You accepted twenty thousand dollars to falsify
that line. Your chief was murdered to get him out of the way, because
it was _known_ you could be bribed. I came here to get you, and I'll
get all the crowd, if it kills half the town in the fight." With one
quick movement he seized his man by the collar. "Here, Bill, hustle
him out," he said to Christler. "We've got no time to waste."

Lawrence, the sheriff, and himself were projected out upon the sidewalk
by one of his quick maneuvers. A crowd of men came running to the
place. Above the rising murmur of their voices, raised in excitement,
came a shrill and strident cry.

"Van! Van!" was the call from someone in the crowd.

It was lean old Gettysburg. Dave and Napoleon were pantingly chasing
where he ran.

"Van!" yelled Gettysburg again. "It's Barger!--Barger!--dead in the
t