h inoffensive looking pair.

"Hain't I got a license ter travel ther highway without bein' follered
an' bedeviled," she demanded angrily, and the two youths seemed at
first too abashed for speech. One of them, who was an almost albino
blond, flushed to the roots of his pale hair.

"I reckon hit jest chanced thet-a-way," he stammered. "We kinderly
happens ter be travelin' ther same direction, an' goin' ther same rate,
thet's all."

"Well don't let hit chanst thet way no more!" Her eyes were flaming
now with a blue light like burning alcohol. "You choose yore gait an'
let me choose mine. Take ther road or give hit, either way."

The second lad had found his tongue by this time and he elected to use
it truculently.

"This high-road's public property, I reckon," he announced. "A man kin
ride as he sees fit."

Alexander could not afford to parley and the suspicion was strong upon
her that the twain were less guileless than their seeming. She flashed
out a revolver and issued an ultimatum. "I warns ye both now. I'm
agoin' ter stand right hyar long enough ter count a hundred. If either
one of ye's in sight at ther end of thet time, I'm ergoin' ter begin
shootin'. Ef I sees ye ergin naggin' round me from now on, I'm goin'
ter begin shootin' too,--an' shoot ter kill."

She meant it, and after a questioning glance they knew that she meant
it. With some grumbled incoherence, they went on. They even went at a
gallop, and Alexander saw them no more. But perhaps even after that
they saw her.

Halloway came early into the hamlet of Viper, bedraggled with travel.
He knew that among the men about him must be at least several
accomplices to the conspiracy which he sought to defeat. He had been
in Coal City for only a few days past and never in Viper until now; so
until someone drifted in who remembered his interference at the tavern
he would not necessarily be recognized as having any connection with
Alexander's affairs. Indeed he had been seen with her so little that
he might altogether escape association with her in the minds of these
fellows. On the other hand any stranger would in all probability be
held under unremitting surveillance and he must therefore proceed with
extreme caution.

Jerry O'Keefe was lounging about the streets, gossiping with
acquaintances, but when Halloway passed him and brushed his shoulders,
neither gave any sign of recognition and Halloway brought up at last,
though with seemin