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Jean rose half to his feet, dragged by alovernable passion to risk all on one leap But the distance was too great Colter, blind as he was to all outward things, would hear, would see in ti like a leaf, Jean sank back, eye again to the crack between the rafters

Ellen did not retreat, nor screaht, and the nificent blaze of her eyes would have checked a less callous brute

Colter's big hand darted between Ellen's arms and fastened in the front of her blouse He did not try to hold her or draw her close The unleashed passion of the e pull he tore off her blouse, exposing her white, rounded shoulders and heaving bosom, where instantly a wave of red burned upward

Overcome by the tremendous violence and spirit of the rustler, Ellen sank to her knees, with blanched face and dilating eyes, trying with folded ar hand to hide her nudity

At that moment the rapid beat of hoofs on the hard trail outside halted Colter in his tracks

"Hell!" he exclai the remnants of Ellen's blouse in her face and turned to leap out the door

Jean saw Ellen catch the blouse and try to wrap it around her, while she sagged against the wall and stared at the door The hoof beats pounded to a solid thu halt just outside

"Ji voice

"Wal, Springer, I reckon I wished y'u'd paid it without spoilin' my deals," retorted Colter, cool and sharp

"Deals? Ha! Y'u'll be forgettin'--your lady love in a er "When I catch--my breath"

"Where's Somers?" demanded Colter

"I reckon he's all shot up--if my eyes didn't fool me"

"Where is he?" yelled Colter

"Jim--he's layin' up in the bushes round thet bluff I didn't wait to see hoas hurt But he shore stopped some lead An' he flopped like a chicken with its--haid cut off"

"Where's Antonio?"

"He run like the greaser he is," declared Springer, disgustedly

"Ahuh! An' where's Queen?" queried Colter, after a significant pause

"Dead!"

The silence ensuing was fraught with a suspense that held Jean in cold bonds He saw the girl below rise fro the blouse to her breast, the other extended, and with strange, repressed, almost frantic look she swayed toward the door