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First he saw a gaping hole, dark red against a whiteness of skin, froraceful, beautiful swell of a woirl!I've killed a girl!"

She suddenly opened eyes that transfixed Venters They were fathomless blue Consciousness of death was there, a blended terror and pain, but no consciousness of sight She did not see Venters She stared into the unknown

Then ca strength, and in her convulsions she alrasp Slowly she relaxed and sank partly back The ungloved hand sought the wound, and pressed so hard that her wrist half buried itself in her bosoers And she looked at Venters with eyes that saw hi aim of which he had been so proud He had seen that look in the eyes of a crippled antelope which he was about to finish with his knife But in her it had infinitelyto life was there, and the divining helplessness and the terrible accusation of the stricken

"Forgive me! I didn't know!" burst out Venters

"You shot asps

Upon her lips appeared a fluttering, bloody froth By that Venters knew the air in her lungs waswith blood "Oh, I knew--it would--co--it's all darkAh, God!Mercy--"

Her rigidity loosened in one long quiver and she lay back liht then that she died But the faint pulsation of her breast assured hiered Death seeone clear through her

Nevertheless, he tore sageleaves frohtly over her wounds, he bound the black scarf round her shoulder, tying it securely under her arht that blood-stained, accusing breast

"What--now?" he questioned, with flying --but I can't leave her"

He rapidly surveyed the sage to the north and irl's soreat a shock as when he first reotten the rustler, and this black strip of felt-cloth established the identity of Oldring's Masked Rider Venters had solved theher carefully upon it, he began to retrace his steps The dog trailed in his shadow And the horse, that had stood drooping by, folloithout a call