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"After that, things happened quickly You, my friend, made your false confession to save one who had done you a poor service years ago Almost simultaneously with that, Marette had coht to Kedsty She told hi him this evidence was in the hands of others and would be used if anything happened to her Her power over him was complete As the price of her secrecy she deave Kedsty his opportunity

"He knew you were lying He kneas Donald who had killed Barkley Yet he illing to sacrifice you to save hi for Donald, while I searched for him on the trails That is why she secretly lived in Kedsty's house She knew that Donald would coet hi how to save you

"She loved you, Kent--from that first hour she came to you in the hospital And she tried to exact your freedom also as an added price for her secrecy But Kedsty had becoer If he freed you, he saw his whole world cru under his feet He, too, went a little mad, I think He told Marette that he would not free you, that he would go to the hanght of your freedom, and a little later--Donald caht out in the stored Marette down to the rooht She found Kedsty in his chair--dead Donald was gone It was then that you found her there Kent, she loved you--and you will never kno her heart bled when she let you think she had killed Kedsty She has toldIt was her fear for Donald, her desire to keep all possible suspicion from him until he was safe, that compelled her not to confide even in you Later, when she knew that Donaldto tell you And then--you were separated at the Chute" McTrigger paused, and Kent saw hirief that was still like the fresh cut of a knife in his heart

"And O'Connor found out all this?"

McTrigger nodded "Yes He defied Kedsty's coo to Fort Si when he found s happened, Kent But I guess God , for a space, his old reason returned to him It was fro The story is known everywhere now It is marvelous that you did not hear--"