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Jack strode through the young alders to his horse, swung to the saddle without touching the stirrups, and was off instantly at a canter He rode fast, evidently with a direct driving purpose to reach a particular destination The trail was a rough and rocky one, but he took it recklessly His surefooted broncho scrambled catlike up steep inclines and slid in clouds of dust down breakneck hillsides of loose rubble In and out he wound, across gulches and over passes, following always as nearly a bee line as was possible

An hour of rapid travel brought hiround and examined the dusty roadbed Apparently he was satisfied, for he took his sweat-stained horse back into the brush and tied it to a cottonwood From its case beside the saddle he drew a rifle He retraced his own steps and selected carefully a place a the thick bushes by the roadside With his pocketknife he cut eye-holes in the bandanna handkerchief that had been round his neck and tied it over his face in such a way as to conceal his features entirely Then he carefully ees it contained and dropped them into his pocket

These preparations made, he sat down and waited There came to him very soon the rumble of wheels Presently a one-horse trap appeared at a curve of the road Captain Kilmeny was the driver

Jack rose noiselessly and thrust the barrel of his rifle through the bushes He ithin six feet of the road and he waited until his cousin was almost abreast of him

"Throw up your hands!"

The captain knew in an instant what he was up against ANed Kilht and when to surrender His hands went into the air

"Kick that rifle into the road--with your foot, not with your hands"

The Englishman did as he was told

"What do you want?" he de sharply at the masked bandit

"I want that satchel beside you Drop it out"

Again the officer obeyed orders He asked no questions andHit the grit for the Lodge"

After he had faced about, Ned Kil

"I knoho you are, and there's just one name for your kind--you're an out and out rotter"

"It's a difference of opinion that makes horse races, captain," answered the masked e, was sick at heart He caentleone to the devil as this young cousin of his had done But there was so in this whole affair so contemptible that it hurt his pride The theft itself was not the worst thing The miner had traded on their faith in him He had lied to them, had made a mock of their friendly offers to help hi in him