country road, Terry
turned to the right, headed again toward her own home.

When, with Steve at her heels, she ran up on the porch it was to be met
by Iki, the Japanese cook, his eyes shining wildly.

"Where's my father?" she asked, and Iki waving his hands excitedly
answered:

"Departed with rapid haste and many curse-words from his gentleman
friend. The master could not make a stop for one little more drink of
whiskey. The other strike and vomit threats and say: 'Most surely will
I cause that you tarry long time in jail-side.' Saying likewise: 'I
got you by the long hair like I want you and yes-by-God, like some day
soon I get your lovely daughter!' Only he say the latter with
unpleasant words of----"

Terry was shaking him by both shoulders.

"Where did they go?" she demanded. "How long ago?"

"On horses, running swiftly," gibbered Iki. "Ten minutes,
maybe--perhaps twenty or thirty. Who can tell the time when----"

"Why didn't we meet them?" asked Steve of Terry. "If they are really
headed for Red Creek?"

"They are taking all of the short-cuts there are," she answered
promptly. "They'll take a cow-trail through the ranch, cut across the
lower end of your place, and come into the old road just beyond.
Blenham's all fox; he has guessed that I am out to put a spoke in his
wheel somehow. He won't be wasting any perfectly good moonlight. Come
on!" And again she was running to the car. "We'll overhaul them just
the same.

"I believe you," grunted Steve, once more seated beside her, the engine
drumming, the wheels spinning. "You don't know what a speed law is, do
you?"

"Speed law?" she repeated absently, her eyes on the next dark turn in
the road. "What's that?"

He chuckled and settled back in his seat. His eyes, like the girl's,
were watchfully bent upon the gloom-filled angle which Terry must
negotiate before the way straightened out again before her. Her
headlights cut through the shadows; Terry's little body stiffened a bit
and her hands tensed on her wheel; her flying speed was lessened an
almost negligible trifle; she made the turn and opened the throttle.
Steve nodded approvingly.

For the greater part they were silent. He had never seen her in a mood
like to-night's. He read in her face, in her eyes, in the carriage of
her body, one and the same thing; and that was a complex something made
of the several emotions of determination, sorrow, and fiery anger.

He read her thought