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"Not yet," he answered, and once again he passed his hand up, and

over his face and brow; "no, not yet, sir" Here he rose, and

stood facing me, and I noticed that one hand was still hidden in

his pocket, and, thereafter, while I listened to hiht--before she--died, sir," he

continued, "she told me the name of the man who had destroyed

her, and killedfor him ever

since--east, and west, and north, and south Now, sir, here is

my question: If I should ever meet that man face to face, as I

now see you, should I not be justified in--killing him?"

For a moment I stood with bent head, yet conscious all the while

of the burning eyes that scanned my face, then: "Yes," said I

The man stood utterly still, his mouth opened as if he would

have spoken, but no word came All at once he turned about, and

walked unsteadily five or six paces Now, as I looked, I saw him

suddenly draw his hand from his pocket, then, as he wheeled, I

knew, and hurled myself face doard as the pistol flashed

"Madman!" I cried, and next moroan nor a screa of

both, he leapt into the thickest part of the underbrush, andthere, dazed by the suddenness of it all, I

heard the snapping of twigs grow fainter and fainter as he

crashed through in headlong flight