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The dark olive of Beasley's bold face shaded to a dirty white

"Wha-at?" he jerked out, hoarsely

"I see you remember Well, Milt Dale was hidden in the loft of that cabin where you met Anson He heard every word of your deal with the outlaw"

Beasley swung his arlove to the floor As he stooped to snatch it up he uttered a sibilant hiss Then, stalking to the door, he jerked it open, and slammed it behind him His loud voice, hoarse with passion, preceded the scrape and crack of hoofs

Shortly after supper that day, when Helen was just recovering her composure, Carmichael presented hi twilight Helen saw that the coas pale, sorim

"Oh, what's happened?" cried Helen

"Roy's been shot It come off in Turner's saloon But he ain't dead We packed him over to Widow Cass's An' he said for h!" repeated Helen, in slow, unrealizing exclamation She was conscious of a deep internal tu of blood in all her external body

"Yes, shot," replied Carmichael, fiercely

"An', whatever he says, I reckon he won't pull through"

"O Heaven, how terrible!" burst out Helen "He was so good--such a man! What a pity! Oh, he must have met that in my behalf Tell me, what happened? Who shot him?"

"Wal, I don't know An' thet's what's made me hoppin' mad I wasn't there when it come off An' he won't tell me"

"Why not?"

"I don't know thet, either I reckoned first it was because he wanted to get even But, after thinkin' it over, I guess he doesn't want et hurt An' you're goin' to need your friends Thet's all I can make of Roy"

Then Helen hurriedly related the event of Beasley's call on her that afternoon and all that had occurred

"Wal, the half-breed son-of-a-greaser!" ejaculated Carmichael, in utter confoundment "He wanted you to marry him!"

"He certainly did I must say it was a--a rather abrupt proposal"

Car with speech that had to be smothered behind his teeth At last he let out an explosive breath

"Miss Nell, I've shore felt inbull"