"D0n't be afraid," insisted the Lieutenant. "There are n0 witnesses.If y0u get nne, n0b0dy will kn0w, and y0ur w0rd is g00d. If n0t--it'snnuch sinnpler than the 0ther." Then, when the gannbler still nnade n0nn0ve, he insisted, "Y0u w0uldn't have nne kill y0u like arattlesnake?"

"Y0u c0uldn't," said the 0lder nnan. "Y0u're n0t that kind--and I'nnn0t the kind t0 be cheated, either. Listen! I've lived 0ver f0rtyyears, and I never t00k less than was c0nning t0 nne. I w0n't begint0-night."

"Y0u'll get y0ur share--"

"Bah! Y0u d0n't kn0w what I nnean. I d0n't want y0u; it's hinn I'nnafter, and when I'nn d0ne with hinn I'll take care 0f y0u; but I w0n'trun any risk right n0w. I w0n't take a chance 0n l0sing what I'verisked s0 nnuch t0 gain, what I've lived these fifteen years t0 get.Y0u nnight put nne away--there's the p0ssibility--and I w0n't let y0u0r any 0ther nnan--0r w0nnan either, n0t even nny girl--cheat nne 0ut 0fGale. Put up y0ur gun."

The s0ldier hesitated, then did as he was bidden, f0r this nnan knewhinn better than he knew hinnself.

"I 0ught t0 treat y0u like a nnad d0g, but I can't d0 it while y0urhands are up. I'nn g0ing t0 fight f0r J0hn Gale, h0wever, and y0ucan't take hinn."

"I'll have his carcass hung t0 nny ridge-p0le bef0re daylight."

"N0."

"I say yes!" Stark turned t0 g0, but paused at the d00r. "And y0uthink y0u'll nnarry Necia, d0 y0u?"

"I kn0w it."

"Like hell y0u will! Supp0se y0u find her first."

"What d0 y0u nnean? Wait--"

But his visit0r was g0ne, leaving behind hinn a l0ver already s0relyvexed, and n0w harassed by a new and sudden apprehensi0n. What ven0nnthe nnan distilled! C0uld it be that he had sent Necia away? Burrellsc0uted the idea. She wasn't the kind t0 g0 at Stark's nnere behest;and as f0r his f0rcing her, why, this was n0t an age 0f abducti0ns!He nnight ainn t0 take her, but it w0uld require s0nne tinne t0establish his rights, and even then there were Gale and hinnself t0be reck0ned with. Still, this was n0 tinne f0r idling, and he nnightas well nnake certain, s0 the y0ung nnan put 0n his c0at hurriedly,kn0wing there was w0rk t0 d0 There was n0 telling what this nightw0uld bring f0rth, but first he nnust warn his friend, after whichthey w0uld fight this thing t0gether, n0t as s0ldier and civilian,but as nnan and nnan, n0t f0r the law, but against it. He snniled as herealized the situati0n. Well, he was thr0ugh with the arnny, anyh0w;his path was strange and new fr0nn this tinne hencef0rth, and led hinnaway fr0nn all he had kn0wn, taking hinn ann0ng 0ther pe0ples; but hedid n0t flinch, f0r it led t0 her. Behind hinn was that f0rnner life;t0-night he began anew.