said old Joe in a tremulous voice, "if I was a prayin' man I'd
git down on my knees an' thank God for deliverin' you tonight."

"Thank Buck Daniels, who's left his life in pawn for us. I'll go
straight for Buck's house. You must ride to Sheriff Morris and tell
him that an honest man is up there in the power of Silent's gang."

"But--" he began.

She waved her hand to him, and spurring her horse to a furious gallop
raced off into the night. Her father stared after her for a few
moments, but then, as she had advised, rode for Gus Morris.

CHAPTER XXXII

THOSE WHO SEE IN THE DARK

It was still early morning when Kate swung from her horse before the
house of Buck Daniels. Instinct seemed to lead her to the sick-room,
and when she reached it she paid not the slightest attention to the
old man and his wife, who sat nodding beside the bed. They started up
when they heard the challenging growl of Black Bart, which relapsed
into an eager whine of welcome as he recognized Kate.

She saw nothing but the drawn white face of Dan and his blue pencilled
eyelids. She ran to him. Old Sam, hardly awake, reached out to stop
her. His wife held him back.

"It's Delilah!" she whispered. "I seen her face!"

Kate was murmuring soft, formless sounds which made the old man and
his wife look to each other with awe. They retreated towards the door
as if they had been found intruding where they had no right.

They saw the fever-bright eyes of Dan open. They heard him murmur
petulantly, his glance wandering. Her hand passed across his forehead,
and then her touch lingered on the bandage which surrounded his left
shoulder. She cried out at that, and Dan's glance checked in its
wandering and fixed upon the face which leaned above him. They saw his
eyes brighten, widen, and a frown gradually contract his forehead.
Then his hand went up slowly and found hers.

He whispered something.

"What did he say?" murmured Sam.

"I dunno," she answered. "I think it was 'Delilah!' See her shrink!"

"Shut up!" cautioned Sam. "Ma, he's comin' to his senses!"

There was no doubt of it now, for a meaning had come into his eyes.

"Shall I take her away?" queried Sam in a hasty whisper. "He may do
the girl harm. Look at the yaller in his eyes!"

"No," said his wife softly, "it's time for us to leave 'em alone."

"But look at him now!" he muttered. "He's makin' a sound back in his
throat like the growl of a wolf! I'm afeard for the gal, ma!"