The Hunted Woman

n stopped to listen, his automatic in his hand, his eye piercing the gloom for some moving shadow. He had not counted on an instant's hesit

g, but as a beast. He was ready to shoot. But he saw nothing. He heard no sound that could have been made by a stumbling foot or a moving body. An hour later, the moon would have been up, but it was dark now except for the stars. He heard the hoot of an owl a hundred yards away. Out in the river something splashed.

pale. Her ey

nt," she said, "I was b

ne." Unconsciously her name had slipped from him. It seemed the most natural thing in the world for him to call

shud

I under

s than Bill Quade. He is Culver Rann, up at Tête Jaune. They are partners-partners in crime, in sin, in everything that is bad and that brings them gold. Their influence among the rougher elements along the line of rail is complete. They are so strongly entrenched that they have put contractors out of business because they would not submit

to go on with Joanne's blue ey

de our enemy," sh

his head away. "You cannot go on to Tête Jaune alo

will h

you back to Mrs. Otto now. And to-morrow I shall go on to Tête Jaune with you. It is fo

to go, Joanne glanced

ave the dishes in t

he door. When they had passed through the little clearing, and the d

logized. "This isn't much like the shell

oodshells? I did, and they made me shiver. Th

ls, but of Quade, that made her fingers close more tightly about his own. His right hand was gripping the butt of his auto

e no longer than your little finger-in fact, I'm just as scared of a little grass snake as I am of a python. It's the thing, and not its size, that horrifies me. Once I jumped out of a boat into ten feet of wat

ite of the uneasy thrill

t some little thing like that. My father was one of the bravest men in the world, and a hundred times I have see

whole world as there were along that confounded river. I slept sitting up, dressed in rubber wading boots th

e glow of lights ahead of them, Aldous caught the sudden upt

of you it was to talk of such pleasant things while we were coming throug

etting to put the automatic back in his pocket. At sight of it the amusement died in

dare?" she

down with, wasn't it, Ladygray? I imagine you'll catch me in all sorts of blunders like that." He pointed ahead. "There

light was the good-natured Scotchwoman. Aldous gave the whistling signa

d the tent-house, Joanne put

," she said. "The face at the window-was terrible.

t a warm glow

he assured her. "Quad

cabin," she persisted. "Is there

and borrow a couple of his horse blank

t return to the cabin you may go on to Têt

like to be chased out, but I'll promi

caught a last look in Joanne's eyes of anxiety and fear. Glancing back out of the darkness that swallowed him up, he saw her pause for a moment in the lighted doorway

d him before, and had evaded him because the sight of him was unpleasant; now he wanted to grip his fingers around his thick red throat. He had meant to come up behind Quade's tent, but changed his mind and walked into the lighted trail between the two rows of tents and shacks, his hands thrust carelessly into his trousers pockets. The night carnival of the railroad builders was on. Coarse laughter, snatches of song, the click of pool balls and the chink of glasses mingled with the thrumming of three or four musical instruments along the lighted way. The phonograph in Quade's place was going incessantly. Half a dozen times Aldous paused to greet

afternoon. He nodded to them. Slim Barker was in Quade's place behind the counter. Barker was Quade's right-hand man at Miette, and there was a glitter in his rat-like eyes

ade?" he ask

ugged his

e answered shortly

. Only-I don't want h

ent a sudden thrill through him. In the same breath it was gone. With half a dozen men ready to do his work, Aldous knew that Quade would not redden his own hands or place himself in any conspicuous risk. Du

Steve

He says right away-an' for no one to see you. He said not to let a

ied Aldous quickly. "Be sure you mind wh

ldous looked back, and ahead, and th

rose and stretched himself. The packer advanced to where he had screened himself behind a clump of bush. His first look at the other assured him that he was right in using caution. The moon had risen, and the light of it fell in the packer's face. It was a dead, stonelike gray.

"Get out of the moonlight. I'

hed behind

Stevens said, in a low v

what happene

One of his big hands reached out

's necessary. She looked like an angel to me when I saw her up at the train. But you know.

replied Aldous. "As pure and as sweet as

everything. Then he went on down to your place. He told me that later. But I guessed it soon as he come back. I never see him look like he did then. I'll cut it short. He's mad-loon mad-over that girl. I played the sympathy act, thinkin

ice, and stopped to pe

ed Aldous. "

his tobacco-laden breath s

tfit if I'd put you out of the w

ll

es

only by their tense breathing. Aldous had fou

he said. "And he bel

ter to-morrow-an' throw yo

eat by a mile! And does he want you to do this p

s life he wants her. She's turned that poison-blood of his into fire. He raved about her here. He'll go the limit. He'll do anything to get her. He's so crazy I believe he'd give every dollar he's got. There's just one thing for you to do. Send t

ference. I would have helped you anyway, Stevens. I've got more money than I know what to do with right now. Roper has a thirty-horse outfit for sale. Buy it to-morrow. I'll pay for it, and y

You don't think I'm sellin' myself, do you, Aldous?" he asked hus

but a little of it. It sometimes accumulates so fast that it bothers me. Besides, I've promised to accept payment for

you ain't," replied Stevens, biti

his feet. Stevens

alf of them forty died by accident. The other half didn't. They were sent down by Culver Rann and Bill Quade. Once you go floatin' down the Frazer there ain't no questions asked. Somebody sees you an' pulls you out-mebby a Breed or an Indian-an' puts you under a little sand a bit later. If it's a white man he does likewise. There ain't no time to investigate floaters over-particular in the wilderness. Besid

nk I'll go i

er have you in there than i

el

you've taken an interest in will turn up missing, Aldous. She'll disappear

" said Aldous, gripping the

er people go. Culver Rann an' Bill Quade know what happened to Stimson, an' they know what happened to Stimson's

Aldous waited. Stevens spat a

he wants to tell Culver Rann that he don't dare telephone or telegraph. An'