第20章

"————you！……Inevergaveintoy’uan’Ineverwill。"

"But，girl——Ikissedy’u——huggedy’u——handledy’u——"heexpostulated，andthemakingofthecigaretteceased。

"Yes，y’udid——y’ubrute——whenIwassodownheartedandweakI

couldn’tliftmyhand，"sheflashed。

"Ahuh！Y’umeanIcouldn’tdothatnow？"

"IshouldsmileIdo，JimColter！"shereplied。

"Wal，mebbe——I’llsee——presently，"hewenton，strainingwithwords。

"ButI’mshorecurious……Daggs，then——hewasnothin’toy’u？"

"Nomorethany’u，"shesaid，morbidly。"Heusedtorunafterme——

longago，itseems……Iwasonlyagirlthen——innocent——an’I’dnotknownanybutroughmen。Icouldn’tallthetime——everyday，everyhour——keephimatarm’slength。SometimesbeforeIknew——Ididn’tcare。

Iwasachild。Akissmeantnothingtome。ButafterIknew——"

Ellendroppedherheadinbroodingsilence。

"Say，doy’uexpectmetobelievethat？"hequeried，withaderisiveleer。

"Bah！WhatdoIcarewhaty’ubelieve？"shecried，withliftinghead。

"HowabootSimmBrace？"

"Thatcoyote！……Heliedabootme，JimColter。Andanymanhalfamanwouldhaveknownhelied。"

"Wal，Simm。alwaysbraggedabooty’ubein’hisgirl，"assertedColter。

"An’hewasn’tover——particularabootdetailsofyourlove—makin’。"

Ellengazedoutofthedoor，overColter’shead，asiftheforestouttherewasarefuge。Sheevidentlysensedmoreaboutthemanthanappearedinhisslowtalk，inhisslouchingposition。Herlipsshutinafirmline，asiftohidetheirtremblingandtostillherpassionatetongue。Jean，inhisabsorption，magnifiedhisperceptions。

NotyetwasEllenJorthafraidofthisman，butshefearedthesituation。

Jean’sheartwasatburstingpitch。Allwithinhimseemedchaos——awreckofbeliefsandconvictions。Nothingwastrue。Hewouldwakepresentlyoutofanightmare。Yet，assurelyashequiveredthere，hefelttheimminenceofagreatmoment——alightningflash——athunderbolt——abalancestruck。

Colterattendedtotheforgottencigarette。Herolledit，lightedit，allthetimewithlowered，ponderinghead，andwhenhehadpuffedacloudofsmokehesuddenlylookedupwithfaceashardasflint，eyesasfieryasmoltensteel。

"Wal，Ellen——howabootJeanIsbel——ourhalf—breedNezPercefriend——whowasshoreseenhandlin’y’ufamiliar？"hedrawled。

EllenJorthquiveredasunderalash，andherbrownfaceturnedadustyscarlet，thatslowlyrecedingleftherpale。

"Damny’u，JimColter！"sheburstout，furiously。"IwishJeanIsbelwouldjumpinthatdoor——ordownoutofthatloft！……HekilledGreavesfordefilingmyname！……He’dkillY’Uforyourdirtyinsult……AndI’dliketowatchhimdoit……Y’ucold—bloodedTexan！

Y’uthievingrustler！Y’uliar！……Y’uliedabootmyfather’sdeath。

AndIknowwhy。Y’ustolemyfather’sgold……An’nowy’uwantme——

y’uexpectmetofallintoyourarms……MyHeaven！cain’ty’utelladecentwoman？Wasyourmotherdecent？Wasyoursisterdecent？……Bah！I’mappealingtodeafness。Buty’u’llHEAHthis，JimColter！……I’mnotwhatyuthinkIam！I’mnotthe——thedamnedhussyy’uliarshavemademeout……I’maJorth，alas！I’venohome，norelatives，nofriends！I’vebeenforcedtolivemylifewithrustlers——vilemenlikey’uan’Daggsan’therestofyourlike……ButI’vebeengood！Doy’uheahthat？……IAMgood——sohelpmeGod，y’uan’

allyourrottennesscain’tmakemebad！"

Colterloungedtohistallheightandthelaxityofthemanvanished。

VanishedalsowasJeanIsbel’ssuspendedicydread，thecoldcloggingofhisfeveredmind——vanishedinawhite，living，leapingflame。

Silentlyhedrewhisknifeandlaytherewatchingwiththeeyesofawildcat。TheinstantColtersteppedfarenoughovertowardtheedgeoftheloftJeanmeanttobounderectandplungedownuponhim。ButJeancouldwaitnow。Colterhadagunathiship。Hemustneverhaveachancetodrawit。

"Ahuh！Soy’uwishJeanIsbelwouldhopinheah，doy’u？"queriedColter。

"Wal，ifIhadanypityony’u，that’sdoneforit。"

Asweepofhislongarm，soswiftEllenhadnotimetomove，broughthishandinclutchingcontactwithher。Andtheforceofitflungherhalfacrossthecabinroom，leavingthesleeveofherblouseinhisgrasp。

Pantinglysheputoutthatbaredarmandherothertowardhimoffashetooklong，slowstridestowardher。

Jeanrosehalftohisfeet，draggedbyalmostungovernablepassiontoriskallononeleap。Butthedistancewastoogreat。Colter，blindashewastoalloutwardthings，wouldhear，wouldseeintimetomakeJean’seffortfutile。Shakinglikealeaf，Jeansankback，eyeagaintothecrackbetweentherafters。

Ellendidnotretreat，norscream，normove。Everylineofherbodywasinstinctwithfight，andthemagnificentblazeofhereyeswouldhavecheckedalesscallousbrute。

Colter’sbighanddartedbetweenEllen’sarmsandfastenedinthefrontofherblouse。Hedidnottrytoholdherordrawherclose。Theunleashedpassionofthemanrequiredviolence。Inonesavagepullhetoreoffherblouse，exposingherwhite，roundedshouldersandheavingbosom，whereinstantlyawaveofredburnedupward。

Overcomebythetremendousviolenceandspiritoftherustler，Ellensanktoherknees，withblanchedfaceanddilatingeyes，tryingwithfoldedarmsandtremblinghandtohidehernudity。

AtthatmomenttherapidbeatofhoofsonthehardtrailoutsidehaltedColterinhistracks。

"Hell！"heexclaimed。"An’who’sthat？"WithafierceactionheflungtheremnantsofEllen’sblouseinherfaceandturnedtoleapoutthedoor。

JeansawEllencatchtheblouseandtrytowrapitaroundher，whileshesaggedagainstthewallandstaredatthedoor。Thehoofbeatspoundedtoasolidthumpinghaltjustoutside。

"Jim——thar’shelltopay！"raspedoutapantingvoice。

"Wal，Springer，IreckonIwishedy’u’dpaiditwithoutspoilin’

mydeals，"retortedColter，coolandsharp。

"Deals？Ha！Y’u’llbeforgettin’——yourladyloveinaminnit，"

repliedSpringer。"WhenIcatch——mybreath。"

"Where’sSomers？"demandedColter。

"Ireckonhe’sallshotup——ifmyeyesdidn’tfoolme。"

"Whereishe？"yelledColter。

"Jim——he’slayin’upinthebushesroundthetbluff。Ididn’twaittoseehowhewashurt。Butheshorestoppedsomelead。An’hefloppedlikeachickenwithits——haidcutoff。"

"Where’sAntonio？"

"Herunlikethegreaserheis，"declaredSpringer，disgustedly。

"Ahuh！An’where’sQueen？"queriedColter，afterasignificantpause。

"Dead！"

ThesilenceensuingwasfraughtwithasuspensethatheldJeanincoldbonds。Hesawthegirlbelowrisefromherknees，onehandholdingtheblousetoherbreast，theotherextended，andwithstrange，repressed，almostfranticlooksheswayedtowardthedoor。

"Wal，talk，"orderedColter，harshly。

"Jim，thereain’tahellofalot，"repliedSpringer;drawingadeepbreath，"butwhatthereisisshoreinterestin’……Mean’SomerstookAntoniowithus。Helefthiswomanwiththesheep。An’werodeupthecanyon，clumboutontop，an’madeacirclebackontheridge。

That’sthewaywe’vebeenhuntin’fertracks。UptharinabarespotwerunplumpintoQueensittin’againstatree，rightoutintheopen。

Queerestsighty’ueverseen！ThedamngunfighterhadsetdowntowaitforIsbel，whowastrailin’him，aswesuspected———an’hediedthar。

Hewasn’tcoldwhenwefoundhim……Somerswasquicktoseeatrick。

SoheproppedQueenupan’tiedthegunstohishands——an’，Jim，thequeerestthingabootthatdealwasthis——Queen’sgunswasempty！Notashellleft！Itbeatusholler……Welefthimthar，an’hiduphighonthebluff，mebbeahundredyardsoff。Thehossesweleftbackofathicket。An’wewaitedtharalongtime。But，sureenough，thehalf—breedcome。Hewastoosmart。ToomuchInjun！Hewouldnotcrosstheopen，butwentaround。An’thenheseenQueen。Itwasgreattowatchhim。Afteralittleheshovedhisrifleoutan’wentrightferQueen。ThisiswhenIwantedtoshoot。Icouldhavepluggedhim。

ButSomerssayswaitan’makeitsure。WhenIsbelgotuptoQueenhewassortofhalfhidbythetree。An’Icouldn’twaitnolonger，soIshot。Ihithim，too。Weallbeguntoshoot。Somersshowedhimself，an’that’swhenIsbelopenedup。HeusedupawholemagazineonSomersan’then，suddenlike，hequit。Itdidn’ttakemelongtofiggermebbehewasoutofshells。WhenIseenhimrunIwascertainofit。Thenwemadeforthehossesan’rodeafterIsbel。PrettysoonIseenhimrunnin’likeadeerdowntheridge。Iyelledan’spurredafterhim。ThereiswhereAntonioquitme。ButIkepton。An’IgotashotatIsbel。Heranoutofsight。Ifolleredhimbyspotsofbloodonthestonesan’grassuntilIcouldn’ttrailhimnomore。Hemusthavegonedownoverthecliffs。Hecouldn’thavedonenothin’elsewithoutmeseein’him。Ifoundhisrifle，an’hereitistoprovewhatIsay。IhadtogobacktoclimbdownofftheRim，an’Irodefastdownthecanyon。He’ssomewherealongthatwestwall，hidin’inthebrush，hardhitifIknowanythin’abootthecolorofblood。"

"Wal！……thatbeatsmeholler，too，"ejaculatedColter。

"Jim，what’stobedone？"inquiredSpringer，eagerly。Ifwe’resharpwecancorralthathalf—breed。He’sthelastoftheIsbels。"

"More，pard。He’sthelastoftheIsbeloutfit，"declaredColter。

"Ify’ucanshowmebloodinhistracksI’lltrailhim。"

"Y’ucanbetI’llshowy’u，"rejoinedtheotherrustler。"Butlisten！

Wouldn’titbebetterforusfirsttoseeifhecrossedthecanyon？

Ireckonhedidn’t。Butlet’smakesure。An’ifhedidn’twe’llhavehimsomewharalongthatwestcanyonwall。He’snotgotnogun。He’dneverrunthetwayifhehad……Jim，he’sourmeat！"

"Shore，he’llhavethatknife，"ponderedColter。

"Weneedn’tworryaboutthet，"saidtheother，positively。"He’shardhit，Itelly’u。Allwegottodoisfindthetbloodytrailagainan’

sticktoit——goin’careful。He’slayin’lowlikeacrippledwolf。"

"Springer，Iwantthejoboffinishin’thathalf—breed，"hissedColter。

"I’dgivetenyearsofmylifetostickagundownhisthroatan’shootitoff。"

"Allright。Let’srustle。Mebbey’u’llnothavetogivemuchmore’ntenminnits。BecauseItelly’uIcanfindhim。It’dbeeneasy——but，Jim，IreckonIwasafraid。"

"Leaveyourhossformean’goahaid，"therustlerthensaid，brusquely。

"I’veajobinthecabinheah。"

"Haw—haw！……Wal，Jim，I’llrustleabitdownthetrailan’wait。

Nohuntin’JeanIsbelalone——notferme。I’vehadaqueerfeelin’

aboutthetknifeheusedonGreaves。An’Ireckony’u’doughterletthetJorthhussyalonelongenoughto——"

"Springer，IreckonI’vegottohawg—tieher——"Hisvoicebecameindistinguishable，andfootfallsattestedtoaslowmovingawayofthemen。

JeanhadlistenedwithearsacutelystrungtocatcheverysyllablewhilehisgazeresteduponEllenwhostoodbesidethedoor。Everylineofherbodydenotedalisteningintensity。HerbackwastowardJean，sothathecouldnotseeherface。Andhedidnotwanttosee，butcouldnothelpseeinghernakedshoulders。Sheputherheadoutofthedoor。Suddenlyshedrewitinquicklyandhalfturnedherface，slowlyraisingherwhitearm。ThiswastheleftoneandborethemarksofColter’shardfingers。

Shegavealittlegasp。Hereyesbecamelargeandstaring。Theywerebentonthehandthatshehadremovedfromastepontheladder。Onhandandwristshowedabright—redsmearofblood。

Jean，withaconvulsiveleapofhisheart，realizedthathehadlefthisbloodytracksontheladderashehadclimbed。Thatmomentseemedthesupremelyterribleoneofhislife。

EllenJorth’sfaceblanchedandhereyesdarkenedanddilatedwithexceedingamazeandflashingthoughttobecomefixedwithhorror。

ThatinstantwastheoneinwhichherreasonconnectedthebloodontheladderwiththeescapeofJeanIsbel。

Onemomentsheleanedthere，stillasastoneexceptforherheavingbreast，andthenherfixedgazechangedtoaswift，darkblaze，comprehending，yetinscrutable，assheflashedituptheladdertotheloft。Shecouldseenothing，yetsheknewandJeanknewthatsheknewhewasthere。Amarveloustransformationpassedoverherfeaturesandevenoverherform。Jeanchokedwiththeacheinhisthroat。

Slowlysheputthebloodyhandbehindherwhilewiththeothershestillheldthetornblousetoherbreast。

Colter’sslouching，musicalstepsoundedoutside。Anditmighthavebeenastrangebreathofinfinitelyvitalizingandpassionatelifeblownintothewell—springsofEllenJorth’sbeing。Isbelhadnonameforherthen。Thespiritofawomanhadbeentohimathingunknown。

Sheswayedbackfromthedooragainstthewallinsingular，softenedpoise，asifallthesteelhadmeltedoutofherbody。AndasColter’stallshadowfellacrossthethresholdJeanIsbelfelthimselfstaringwitheyeballsthatached——strainingincreduloussightatthiswomanwhoinafewsecondshadbewilderedhissenseswithhertransfiguration。

Hesawbutcouldnotcomprehend。

"Jim——Iheard——allSpringertoldy’u，"shesaid。ThelookofherdumfoundedColterandhervoiceseemedtoshakehimvisibly。

"Supposey’udid。Whatthen？"hedemanded，harshly，ashehaltedwithonebootedfootoverthethreshold。Malignantandforceful，heeyedherdarkly，doubtfully。

"I’mafraid，"shewhispered。

"Whatof？Me？"

"No。Of——ofJeanIsbel。Hemightkilly’uand——thenwherewouldIbe？"

"Wal，I’mdamned！"ejaculatedtherustler。"What’sgotintoy’u？"

Hemovedtoenter，butasortoffascinationboundhim。

"Jim，Ihatedy’uamomentago，"sheburstout。"Butnow——withthatJeanIsbelsomewherenear——hidin’——watchin’tokilly’u——an’maybeme，too——I——Idon’thatey’uanymore……Takemeaway。"

"Girl，havey’ulostyournerve？"hedemanded。

"MyGod！Colter——cain’ty’usee？"sheimplored。"Won’ty’utakemeaway？"

"Ishorewill——presently，"hereplied，grimly。"Buty’u’llwaittillI’veshotthelightsoutofthisIsbel。"

"No！"shecried。"Takemeawaynow……An’I’llgivein——I’llbewhaty’u——want……Y’ucandowithme——asy’ulike。"

Colter’sloftyframeleapedasifatthereleaseofburstingblood。

Withalungeheclearedthethresholdtoloomoverher。

"AmIoutofmyhaid，orarey’u？"heasked，inlow，hoarsevoice。

Hisdarklycordedfaceexpressedextremestamaze。

"Jim，Imeanit，"shewhispered，edginganinchnearerhim，herwhitefaceuplifted，herdarkeyesunreadableintheireloquenceandmystery。

"I’venofriendbuty’u。I’llbe——yours……I’mlost……Whatdoesitmatter？Ify’uwantme——takemeNOW——beforeIkillmyself。"

"EllenJorth，there’ssomethin’wrongabooty’u，"heresponded。

"Didy’utellthetruth——wheny’udeniedeverbein’asweetheartofSimmBruce？"

"Yes，Itoldy’uthetruth。"

"Ahuh！An’howdoy’uaccountforlayin’meoutwitheverydirtynamey’ucouldgivetongueto？"

"Oh，itwastemper。Iwantedtobeletalone。"

"Temper！Wal，Ireckony’u’vegotone，"heretorted，grimly。An’I’mnotshorey’u’renotcrazyorlyin’。AnhouragoIcouldn’ttouchy’u。"

"Y’umaynow——ify’upromisetotakemeaway——atonce。Thisplacehasgotonmynerves。Icouldn’tsleepheahwiththatIsbelhidin’around。

Couldy’u？"

"Wal，IreckonI’dnotsleepverydeep。"

"Thenletusgo。"

Heshookhislean，eagle—likeheadinslow，doubtfulvehemence，andhispiercinggazestudiedherdistrustfully。Yetallthewhiletherewasmanifestinhisstrungframeanalmostirrepressibleviolence，heldinabeyancetohiswill。

"Thatabootyourbein’sogood？"heinquired，withareturnofthemockingdrawl。

"Nevermindwhat’spast，"sheflashed，withpassiondarkashis。

"I’vemademyoffer。"

"Shorethere’salieabooty’usomewhere，"hemuttered，thickly。

"Man，couldIdomore？"shedemanded，inscorn。

"No。Butit’salie，"hereturned。"Y’u’llgetmetotakey’uawayan’thenfoolme——runoff——Godknowswhat。Womenareallliars。"

Manifestlyhecouldnotbelieveinherstrangetransformation。Memoryofherwildandpassionatedenunciationofhimandhiskindmusthavesearedevenhiscallousedsoul。Buttheruthlessnatureofhimhadnotweakenednorsoftenedintheleastastohisintentions。Thisweather—vaneveeringofhersbewilderedhim，obsessedhimwithitspossibilities。Hehadthelookofamanwhowasdividedbetweenloveofherandhate，whoselovedemandedareturn，butwhosehaterequiredaproofofherabasement。Notproofofsurrender，butproofofhershame！

Theignominyofhimthirstedforitslike。Hecouldgrindherbeautyunderhisheel，buthecouldnotsoftentothisfeminineinscrutableness。

AndwhateverwasthetruthofEllenJorthinthismoment，beyondColter’sgloomyandstuntedintelligence，beyondeventheloveofJeanIsbel，itwassomethingthatheldthebalanceofmastery。ShereadColter’smind。Shedroppedthetornblousefromherhandandstoodthere，unashamed，withthewaveofherwhitebreastpulsing，eyesblackasnightandfullofhell，herfacewhite，tragic，terrible，yetstrangelylovely。

"Takemeaway，"shewhispered，stretchingonewhitearmtowardhim，thentheother。

Colter，evenasshemoved，hadleapedwithinarticulatecryandradiantfacetomeetherembrace。Butitseemed，justasherleftarmflasheduptowardhisneck，thathesawherbloodyhandandwrist。Strangehowthatcheckedhisardor——threwuphisleanheadlikethatstrikingbirdofprey。

"Blood！Whatthehell！"heejaculated，andinonesweephegraspedher。

"How’dyudothat？Arey’ucut？……Holdstill。"

Ellencouldnotreleaseherhand。

"Iscratchedmyself，"shesaid。

"Where？……Allthatblood！"Andsuddenlyheflungherhandbackwithfiercegesture，andthegleamsofhisyelloweyeswerelikethepointsofleapingflames。Theypiercedher——readthesecretfalsityofher。

Slowlyhesteppedbackward，guardedlyhishandmovedtohisgun，andhisglancecircledandswepttheinteriorofthecabin。Asifhehadthenoseofahoundandsighttofollowscent，hiseyesbenttothedustofthegroundbeforethedoor。Hequivered，grewrigidasstone，andthenmovedhisheadwithexceedingslownessasifsearchingthroughamicroscopeinthedust——farthertotheleft——tothefootoftheladder——anduponestep——another——athird——allthewayuptotheloft。

Thenhewhippedouthisgunandwheeledtofacethegirl。

"Ellen，y’u’vegotyourhalf—breedheah！"hesaid，withaterriblesmile。

Sheneithermovednorspoke。Therewasasuggestionofcollapse，butitwasonlyachangewherethealluringsoftnessofherhardenedintoastrange，raptglow。Andinitseemedthesamemasterythathadcharacterizedherformeraspect。Hereinthetreacheryofherwasrevealed。Shehadknownwhatshemeanttodoinanycase。

Colter，standingatthedoor，reachedalongarmtowardtheladder，wherehelaidhishandonarung。Takingitawayhehelditpalmoutwardforhertoseethedarksplotchofblood。

"See？"

"Yes，Isee，"shesaid，ringingly。

Passionwrenchedhim，transformedhim。"Allthat——abootleavin’heah——withme——abootgivin’in——wasalie！"

"No，Colter。Itwasthetruth。I’llgo——yet——now——ify’u’llspare——HIM！"

Shewhisperedthelastwordandmadeaslightmovementofherhandtowardtheloft。"Girl！"heexploded，incredulously。"Y’ulovethishalf—breed——thisISBEL！……Y’uLOVEhim！"

"Withallmyheart！……ThankGod！Ithasbeenmyglory……

Itmighthavebeenmysalvation……ButnowI’llgotohellwithy’u——ify’u’llsparehim。"

"Damnmysoul！"raspedouttherustler，asifsomethingofrespectwaswrungfromthatsordiddeepofhim。"Y’u——y’uwoman！……Jorthwillturnoverinhisgrave。He’driseoutofhisgraveifthisIsbelgoty’u，"

"Hurry！Hurry！"imploredEllen。"Springermaycomeback。

IthinkIheardacall。"

"Wal，EllenJorth，I’llnotspareIsbel——nory’u，"hereturned，withdarkandmeaningleer，asheturnedtoascendtheladder。

JeanIsbel，too，hadreachedtheclimaxofhissuspense。GatheringallhismusclesinaknothepreparedtoleapuponColterashemountedtheladder。But，EllenJorthscreamedpiercinglyandsnatchedherriflefromitsrestingplaceand，cockingit，shehelditforwardandlow。

"COLTER！"

Herscreamandhisutterednamestiffenedhim。

"Y’uwillspareJeanIsbel！"sherangout。"Dropthatgun—dropit！"

"Shore，Ellen……Easynow。Rememberyourtemper……I’llletIsbeloff，"hepanted，huskily，andallhisbodysankquiveringlytoacrouch。

"Dropyourgun！Don’tturnround……Colter！——I’LLKILLY’U！"

Buteventhenhefailedtodivinethemeaningandthespiritofher。

"Aw，now，Ellen，"heentreated，inlouder，huskiertones，andasifdraggedbyfataldoubtofherstill，hebegantoturn。

Crash！TherifleemptieditscontentsinColter’sbreast。Allhisbodysprangup。Hedroppedthegun。Bothhandsflutteredtowardher。

Andanawfulsurpriseflashedoverhisface。

"So——help——me——God！hewhispered，withbloodthickinhisvoice。

Thendarkly，asonegroping，hereachedforherwithshakinghands。

"Y’u——y’uwhite—throatedhussy！……I’ll……"

Hegraspedthequiveringriflebarrel。Crash！Sheshothimagain。

Asheswayedoverherandfellshehadtoleapaside，andhisclutchinghandtoretheriflefromhergrasp。Theninconvulsionhewrithed，toheaveonhisback，andstretchout——aghastlyspectacle。Ellenbackedawayfromit，herwhitearmswide，aslowhorrorblottingoutthepassionofherface。

Thenfromwithoutcameashrillcallandthesoundofrapidfootsteps。

Ellenleanedagainstthewall，staringstillatColter。"Hey，Jim——what’stheshootin’？"calledSpringer，breathlessly。

AshisformdarkenedthedoorwayJeanonceagaingatheredallhismuscularforceforatremendousspring。

Springersawthegirlfirstandheappearedthunderstruck。Hisjawdropped。Heneedednotthewhitegleamofherpersontotransfixhim。

Hereyesdidthatandtheywererivetedinunutterablehorroruponsomethingontheground。Thusinstinctivelydirected，SpringerespiedColter。

"Y’u——y’ushothim！"heshrieked。"Whatfor——y’uhussy？……

EllenJorth，ify’u’vekilledhim，I’ll……"

HestrodetowardwhereColterlay。

ThenJean，risingsilently，tookastepandlikeatigerhelaunchedhimselfintotheair，downupontherustler。EvenasheleapedSpringergaveaquick，upwardlook。Andbecriedout。Jean’smoccasinedfeetstruckhimsquarelyandsenthimstaggeringintothewall，wherehisheadhithard。Jeanfell，butboundedupasthehalf—stunnedSpringerdrewhisgun。ThenJeanlungedforwardwithasinglesweepofhisarm——andlookednomore。

Ellenranswayingoutofthedoor，and，onceclearofthethreshold，shetotteredoutonthegrass，tosinktoherknees。Thebright，goldensunlightgleameduponherwhiteshouldersandarms。Jeanhadonefootoutofthedoorwhenhesawherandhewhirledbacktogetherblouse。ButSpringerhadfallenuponit。Snatchingupablanket，Jeanranout。

"Ellen！Ellen！Ellen！"hecried。"It’sover！Andreachingher，hetriedtowrapherintheblanket。

Shewildlyclutchedhisknees。Jeanwasconsciousonlyofherwhite，agonizedfaceandthedarkeyeswiththeirlookofterriblestrain。

"Didy’u——didy’u……"shewhispered。

"Yes——it’sover，"hesaid，gravely。"Ellen，theIsbel—Jorthfeudisended。"

"Oh，thank——God！"shecried，inbreakingvoice。"Jean——y’uarewounded……thebloodonthestep！"

"Myarm。See。It’snotbad……Ellen，letmewrapthisroundyou。"

Foldingtheblanketaroundhershoulders，hehelditthereandentreatedhertogetup。Butsheonlyclungthecloser。Shehidherfaceonhisknees。Longshuddersrippledoverher，shakingtheblanket，shakingJean’shands。Distraught，hedidnotknowwhattodo。Andhisownheartwasbursting。

"Ellen，youmustnotkneel——there——thatway，"heimplored。

"Jean！Jean！"shemoaned，andclungthetighter。

Hetriedtoliftherup，butshewasadeadweight，andwiththatholdonhimseemedanchoredathisfeet。

"IkilledColter，"shegasped。"IHADto——killhim！……Ioffered——toflingmyselfaway……"

"Forme！"hecried，poignantly。"Oh，Ellen！Ellen！theworldhascometoanend！……Hush！don’tkeepsayin’that。Ofcourseyoukilledhim。

Yousavedmylife。ForI’dneverhaveletyougooffwithhim……

Yes，youkilledhim……You’reaJorthan’I’manIsbel……

We’vebloodonourhands——bothofus——Iforyouan’youforme！"

Hisvoiceofentreatyandsadnessstrengthenedherandsheraisedherwhiteface，looseningherclasptoleanbackandlookup。Tragic，sweet，despairing，thelovelilessofher——thesignificanceofherthereonherknees——thrilledhimtohissoul。

"Bloodonmyhands！"shewhispered。"Yes。Itwasawful——killinghim……But——allIcareforinthisworldisforyourforgiveness——andyourfaiththatsavedmysoul！"

"Child，there’snothin’toforgive，"heresponded。"Nothin’……

Please，Ellen……"

"Iliedtoy’u！"shecried。"Iliedtoy’u！"

"Ellen，listen——darlin’。"Andthetenderepithetbroughtherheadandarmsbackclose—pressedtohim。"Iknow——now，"hefalteredon。"Ifoundoutto—daywhatIbelieved。An’IsweartoGod——bythememoryofmydeadmother——downinmyheartInever，never，neverbelievedwhatthey——whaty’utriedtomakemebelieve。NEVER！"

"Jean——Ilovey’u——lovey’u——lovey’u！"shebreathedwithexquisite，passionatesweetness。Herdarkeyesburnedupintohis。

"Ellen，Ican’tliftyouup，"hesaid，intremblingeagerness，signifiyinghiscrippledarm。"ButIcankneelwithyou！……"