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At seven Mercer caleam of disappointone froood-hu , Mercer," he said "That is, if I can get hold of him"

"You probably can," snapped Mercer "He doesn't live far froot orders to have you ready to "

Kent's blood see flame He drank a part of his cup of coffee and said then, with a shrug of his shoulders: "I' over The sooner they get me down there, the quicker they will take action And I'm not afraid, not a bit of it I'm bound to win There isn't a chance in a hundred that they can convict ars sent up to you, Mercer I'iven s than Kent's knotted fist shook itself fiercely in the direction of the door

"My God, how I'd like to have you out in the woods--alone--for just one hour!" he whispered

Eight o'clock came, and nine Two or three ti with the guard Once he thought he heard a rumble of thunder, and his heart throbbed joyously Never had he welcoht But the skies rean to appear seemed to him more brilliant than he had ever seen them before And it was very still The rattle of a scow-chain cah it were only a hundred yards away He knew that it was one of Mooie's dogs he heard howling over near the saw past his , seeht A dozen ti voice of the river that very soon was to carry him on toward freedom

The river! Every dream and aspiration found its voice for hione And so it, or on the river beyond, or the third river still beyond that, he would find her In the long, tense wait between the hours of nine and ten he brought the girl back into his rooesture she had made, every word she had spoken He felt the thrill of her hand on his forehead, her kiss, and in his brain her softly spoken words repeated theain, "I think that if you lived very long I should love you" And as she had spoken those words SHE KNEW THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO DIE!