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It h to Joan it seemed an

endless time, until footsteps and voices outside announced the

return of Blicky

He held by the arentle force This stranger's face presented as great a contrast to

Blicky's as could have been i There were consternation and bewilderment in his

expression, but very little fear

"He was preachin' down there in a tent," said Blicky, "an I jest

waltzed him up without explainin'"

"Sir, I want to be married at once," declared Kells, peremptorily

"Certainly I'm at your service," replied the preacher "But I

deplore the--the manner in which I've been approached"

"You'll excuse haste," rejoined the bandit "I'll pay you well"

Kells threw a sold-dust upon the table, and

then he turned to Joan "Come, Joan," he said, in the tone that

brooked neither resistance nor delay

It was at that moment that the preacher first noticed Joan Was her

costume accountable for his start? Joan had remembered his voice and

she wondered if he would remember hers Certainly Jiht of the lanced from Joan to Kells, and then at the