other hand.

"'Some outlet through thunder and lightning,'" added Wynnette.

"Oh, why don't you speak? Why don't you say something, Odalite?" inquired
Elva.

But Odalite gave no sign. She seemed stupefied, benumbed.

"Let your sister alone, my dears. Don't disturb her," said Miss Meeke.

Elfrida Force said nothing. She only recognized in this lethargy the
merciful effects of the drug she had administered to her suffering
daughter that morning.

Meanwhile, the scene before the chancel was becoming more exciting.

Col. Anglesea, furious, defiant, aggressive, but held in check by the
surroundings; Abel Force, deeply offended, but self-controlled and
dignified; Thomas Grandiere, dark, gloomy and determined; William Elk,
red, fiery and threatening; and the strange woman composed, sarcastic and
triumphant--formed a group around which the crowd assembled in the church
were pressing as closely as possible.

"How dared you come here to make this scene?" fiercely demanded Anglesea.

"How 'dared' I? Humph! I like that! Do you think I'm afeared of _you_?
When I have got the whip hand of you, too? I came here to take a hand in
this here little game o' your'n! And I guess it's my deal now! And I
rayther guess as how I shall turn up the little joker! We'll see
presently!" laughed the woman.

Then, turning to the others, she said:

"Gentlemen, I came here this morning not to make a muss, but to prevent
that roaring lion there--who is always going about the world seeking whom
he may devour--from gobbling up that innocent lamb of a young girl; and I
mean to stay here until I _do_ prevent it. Yes! I'm talking about _you_,
you beast!" she exclaimed, suddenly turning upon Anglesea. "And you better
not show your ugly mug down in Wild Cats' Gulch, if you don't want to be
stood on your head and druv down into the ground like a post, and buried
alive! The boys are piping hot after you, they are, I tell you! It was
them that put up a pile to send me on here after you!"

The woman was handsome, but short and stout, and, like _Hamlet_, "scant o'
breath." She had talked herself out of wind for the moment.

Anglesea seized the opportunity, controlled his temper by an effort,
turned to the gentlemen near him, and said:

"Friends, if that woman can be kept quiet for five minutes, I will answer,
to the satisfaction of all here present--though I consider it an outrage
that I should be compelled to answer one who ought rather to be arrest