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Jesse Wingate made a swift instinctiveat his hip But Jed sprang between him and Banion

"No! Hold on, Pap--stop!" cried Jed "It's all right I brought him in

"As a prisoner?"

"I aate," said Banion's deep voice

His eyes were fixed beyond the man to whom he spoke He saw Molly, to

whom her mother now ran, to take the white face in her own hands

Wingate looked from one to the other

"Why do you co more

trouble, as you always have? And what do you oweat all I have not

traveled in your train, and I shall not travel in it I tell you once

in your beliefs; but till I can prove that I'll not

risk any argument about it"

"Then why do you come to my camp now?"

"You should know"

"I do know It's Molly!"

"It's Molly, yes Here's a letter from her I found it in the cabin at

Ash Hollow Your friend Woodhull could have killed me--we passed him

just now Jed could have killed e e her"

"You come here to face me down?"