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Barbara Harding ran forward to assist her charound she could find no opening for a blow that ered his antagonist; but presently she discovered that the American required no assistance She saw the Indian's head bending slowly forward beneath the resistless force of the other's hugeof the vertebrae and saw the li with life and vigor, roll helplessly aside--a harmless and inani hiht whose coat had been ruffled in a fight

"Couy's shot'll lead 'eht doard the valley, along an unknown trail through the darkness of the night

For the irl's arerous portions of the path And as they went there grew in Billy's breast a love so deep and so resistless that he found hiined that his fored through hi force of a hty tidal wave It battered down and swept away the frail barriers of his new-found gentleness Again he was the Mucker--hating the artificial wall of social caste which separated hiirl; but noas ready to clie fists But the tiet Barbara to a place of safety

On and on they went The night grew cold Far ahead there sounded the occasional pop of a rifle Billy wondered what it could mean and as they approached the ranch and he discovered that it careater speed than before

"Somebody's shootin' up the ranch," he volunteered "Wonder who it could be"

"Suppose it is your friend and general?" asked the girl

Billy made no reply They reached the river and as Billy knew not where the fords lay he plunged in at the point at which the water first barred their progress and dragging the girl after him, plowed bull-like for the opposite shore Where the water was above his depth he shile Barbara clung to his shoulders Thus they e quickly and safely