The Barrier

sauntered to the door. Uncertain how this affair might terminate, he chose to get first look at his enemies,

the brush at the rear

e, boys-the shack ain

here was a crackle of dead brush, a sound as of a man tripping and f

red, Meestaire R-r-unnion. Better you pi

staring at the stove-pipe of his cabin, from which came a wisp of smoke. It seem

mned! Somebody's

grily, pushing past him and coming rou

moking, one forearm resting on the jamb, hi

on," he nodde

ly; Stark said nothing, but R

damned bl

here?" said Star

hours

ou come?"

soldier, curtly, at which R

de," and at that instant Necia showed her laughing face und

id. "We've been expectin

or sure," said Poleon. "Who

de her," the

come in," Burrell invited

me. You say your mother told you. I suppo

a no

was it when you le

terjected Gale. "Do you th

r turned

nd to find out. You said yeste

e trader, a trifle disconcerted, whereupo

man ahead of us. I suppose th

t, and beat you at your own game, so that ends it; but there's plenty of ground left fo

nadian, slipping out of his straps. "De nex'

goin' to tear into some of them

; Gale, in particular, was quiet, and ate less than any of them. His eyes sought Stark's face frequently, and once the blood left his chee

oking girl for a 'blood,'

one back of his words that seemed aimed at the trader, Meade thought, but Gale showed no sign of it, so the meal was finished in

ing Runnion's claim more than a mile distant from Lee's discovery. From here they went up the creek to find the girl's other loca

into foul-mouthed mutterings, addressing himself to

ll right, and I still

exclaim

head of us to blanket all the g

lk," declared

ask us to camp early last night? Looks now as if he did it just to give her time to get in first. He admitted th

"I tol' you dat I know all 'bout dis Black Bear Creek, too-you 'member,

to them; but at the light in the Canadian's face Runnion hastily dis

oleon, "but Ole Man Gale, he's my frien', so

ly say it looks bad." But the other h

pecies. Moreover, malice was so bitter in his mouth that he must have it out, so when they

more of a man than

nquired the

face the father; but the old man don't seem to mind it any mo

sly. "I thought of t

e got his squaw," conclu

ing fury that sucked the blood from beneath his tan, leaving him the pallor of ashes, while his mouth twitched and his head rolled slightly from side to side like a palsied old man's. The red of his lips was blanched, leaving two white streaks against a faded, muddy background, through which cam

you are brave m

renchy?" said the ma

it's goin' be him; I can't tell yet, but I'm hope an' pray it's goin' be you, biccause

ging, his shoulders slumped loosely forward like those of a d

peared Runnion dr

something for Miste

rather tackle a gang-saw than a man like P

alone with that half-breed girl, and anybody ca

"most too pretty for a mixed blood, but you c

's jealous, and that's just as good. Those two will have tro

t your eye o

o you bl

e's too goo

for them. I think I'l

ore feet before you finish. As a matter of fact, I don

I can see Gale hat

him and his tribe hog all

y done it. You

evidently Gale had finished his task and returned to

it. It lies next to Lee's, and it's sure to be rich; ours is so far away it may not be worth the r

ocations legall

me. When will the o

s behind, and not to run in on us till we had finished. T

't get but

find who would agr

count

"They worked with me and S

t." He outlined his plan, then the two returned to the cabin to find Lee cooking supper. Poleon was ther

as an engaging talker, with a peculiar knack of suggestion in story-telling-an unconscious halting and elusiveness that told more

doorway, apparently tired and dejected, though his eyes shone like diamond

remind me of her in some ways-that's why it puts her in my m

eighteen yet,

alk when she chose young Bennett over the Gaylord man, for Bennett had been running second best from the sta

gold-dust that Lee had taken from under his bunk, his eyes grew red and bloodshot beneath his hat-brim. Which one of the two would it be, he wondered. From the corner of his eye he saw Gale rise from Lee's bed, where he had stretched himself to smoke, and take his six-shooter from

ort, just stupid and kind of heavy-witted; but one night he took advantage of Bennett's absence and sneaked

at his hands, and held his silence for a full minute, the tale

ned in those parts," he continued. "Bennett came

e girl, in a

you see, I happened to be there-we followed the man for weeks. We traile

or

d his eyes and laughed sinisterly.

never cau

Not

the desert, maybe, h

ht at the time, but I

w s

s alive to-day, and so is the girl. Some time we'll mee

rl be traced?" said Nec

o leap and flicker and the air inside the cabin to strike the occupants like a blow. Instantly there was confus

p he cleared half the room and was beside Stark, while

ke a man with ague. But Stark stood unhurt, and more composed than any of them; following the first bound from his chair, he had relapsed into his customary quiet. There had blazed up one momentary flash of suspicion and anger, but it died straigh

u! It's nothing to be ex

y upon the edge of the bunk; but when the old man undertook to answ

the bullet had bored in the log close

inches. You know there never was a bullet

ted Lee, turning his one eye upon the Li

elieve it myself,"

," said Stark

the others, he had seen the affair from a distance, as it were

Your face look lak' flour. Co

u good, father

up his hat, and shambled out in

," said Lee, shaking his h

the fellow who accidentally discharges his gun i

s, begging your pardon, M

f a mile without speaking, till Gale had reg

hing before, Poleon,

and faced him, the starlight

said

a start. "Well, because

isted the

hat do y

be watch you underneat' my hat w'en you

u s

es

u were asleep