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"Shore y'u ht have had me--that day on the Rily, and she gazed into his eyes with all the mystery of a woue "Girl, what do you mean?"

"Shore, I'd have been plumb fond of havin' y'u make up to me," she drawled It possessed her noith irresistible power, this fact of the love he could not help Some fiendish woman's satisfaction dwelt in her consciousness of her power to kill the noble, the faithful, the good in him

"Ellen Jorth, you lie!" he burst out, hoarsely

"Jean, shore I'd been a toy and a rag for these rustlers long enough I was tired of theive yourself away--"

Isbel moved so swiftly that she did not realize his intention until his hard hand smote her mouth Instantly she tasted the hot, salty blood frohly "Have you no shame?My sister Ann spoke well of you She made excuses--she pitied you"

That for Ellen see blow under which she aler could she maintain this unnatural and terrible poise

"Jean Isbel--go along with y'u," she said, i heah for Simm Bruce!"

At last it was as if she struck his heart Because of doubt of himself and a stubborn faith in her, his passion and jealousy were not proof against this last stab Instinctive subtlety inherent in Ellen had prompted the speech that tortured Isbel How the shock to hied for her, too swift for her to move a hand One arm crushed round her like a steel band; the other, hard across her breast and neck, forced her head back Then she tried to wrestle away But she was utterly powerless His dark face bent down closer and closer Suddenly Ellen ceased trying to struggle She was like a stricken creature paralyzed by the piercing, hypnotic eyes of a snake Yet in spite of her terror, if he meant death by her, she welcomed it

"Ellen Jorth, I'm thinkin' yet--you lie!" he said, low and tense between his teeth

"No! No!" she screaer meet those terrible black eyes Her passionate denial was not only the last of her sha herself and hi, miserable situation