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"Nell, I'll never come back without her," said Dale "I reckon you can hope--only be prepared That's all It's hard But these damned deals are common out here in the West"

"Suppose Beasley coain her hand went out toward hiet off," replied Dale "But don't let hireasers put a dirty hand on you Should he threaten force--why, pack soo down to Mrs Cass's An' wait till I come back!"

"Wait--till you--coain Her dark eyes dilated "Milt--you're like Las Vegas You'll kill Beasley!"

Dale heard his own laugh, very cold and strange, foreign to his ears A grim, deadly hate of Beasley vied with the tenderness and pity he felt for this distressed girl It was a sore trial to see her leaning there against the door--to be compelled to leave her alone Abruptly be stalked off the porch Tonition of Dale and snorted at sight of the cougar Just then the Mexican boy returned with a bag Dale tied this, with the small pack, behind the saddle

"John, you stay here with Miss Helen," said Dale "An' if Carht, if any one rides into Pine from the e come, you be sure to spot him"

"I'll do thet, Milt," responded John

Dalefor a last word to Helen, he felt the words of cheer halted on his lips as he saw her standing white and broken-hearted, with her hands to her bosom He could not look twice

"Coar "Reckon on this track you'll pay me for all my trainin' of you"

"Oh, my friend!" ca ears "Heaven help you--to save her! I--"

Then Ranger started and Dale heard no more He could not look back His eyes were full of tears and his breast ached By a tremendous effort he shifted that e to the duty of this grie, but skirted the northern border, and worked round to the south, where, co to the trail he had ht for the slope now darkening in the twilight The big cougar showed ness to return on this trail than he had shown in the coo, but Dale held him in