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She gave a little gasp Her eyes beca They were bent on the hand that she had removed froht-red smear of blood

Jean, with a convulsive leap of his heart, realized that he had left his bloody tracks on the ladder as he had climbed That moment seemed the supremely terrible one of his life

Ellen Jorth's face blanched and her eyes darkened and dilated with exceeding aht to become fixed with horror That instant was the one in which her reason connected the blood on the ladder with the escape of Jean Isbel

One mo breast, and then her fixed gaze changed to a swift, dark blaze, co, yet inscrutable, as she flashed it up the ladder to the loft She could see nothing, yet she knew and Jean knew that she kneas there A marvelous transformation passed over her features and even over her form Jean choked with the ache in his throat Slowly she put the bloody hand behind her while with the other she still held the torn blouse to her breast

Colter's slouching, e breath of infinitely vitalizing and passionate life blown into the well-springs of Ellen Jorth's being Isbel had no na unknown

She swayed back froular, softened poise, as if all the steel had melted out of her body And as Colter's tall shadow fell across the threshold Jean Isbel felt hi incredulous sight at this woman who in a few seconds had bewildered his senses with her transfiguration He saw but could not coer told y'u," she said The look of her dumfounded Colter and her voice seemed to shake him visibly

"Suppose y'u did What then?" he demanded, harshly, as he halted with one booted foot over the threshold Malignant and forceful, he eyed her darkly, doubtfully

"I'm afraid," she whispered

"What of? Me?"

"No Of--of Jean Isbel He ht kill y'u and--then where would I be?"

"Wal, I'ot into y'u?" He moved to enter, but a sort of fascination bound hio," she burst out "But noith that Jean Isbel somewhere near--hidin'--watchin' to kill y'u--an' maybe me, too--I--I don't hate y'u any more Take me away"