low, despairing, appealing.

"For God's sake, Jeff, don't go! You won't go! They'll kill you! Oh,
God! Jeff! Oh!"

The final exclamation came in a sort of moan as the man swung himself
into the saddle, and, without a word, turned his horse and rode away.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE HEARTS OF TWO WOMEN

The figure was silent, motionless upon the veranda. The eyes were dull
and lifeless. It was as though paralysis held the woman in its grip.

"Tchah!"

The echo of that fierce expletive remained. It rang through heart and
brain. Its sting was hot. It seared its way through the life channels
and blasted all hope.

Was there ever such contempt, such scorn, such repulsion, concentrated
in one single ejaculation! It told the woman everything. It told of a
failure so complete that hope became an emotion driven forever from her
heart. It told her that the usury of life was beyond all belief. It
told her that the interest demanded for every pledged moment was
without pity, or mercy, or justice. Now she knew how she had pawned,
and, oh God, the interest which was being torn from her!

Her gaze remained upon the angle of the barn around which her husband
had vanished. She was waiting for him to reappear. She was waiting to
see if he would ride off in spite of her warning. But she was unaware
of the thought prompting her. All she knew, all she felt, was the
contempt, the scorn, the distrust he had hurled at her.

The western sky had faded to a pallid yellow. The distance was losing
itself in the rising purple shadows. Already the dark patches of
woodlands were assuming that ghostly vagueness which belongs to
twilight. The ranch was wrapped in a deep repose. A sense of rest had
fallen upon the great valley. All life seemed satisfied with its long
day's effort and desired only the peace of night.

But the quiet suddenly gave way before a fresh clatter of movement.
Hoofs once more beat on the sun-baked soil. Two figures grew out of
the twilight from behind the barn, and the woman knew that her warning
had gone for naught. She watched them until they were swallowed up by
the growing dusk. The last dim outline blurred itself into the
pasture. Then she stirred.

A deep sigh was heavily breathed. Then, in a moment, the paralysis
fell from her. The dullness of her eyes gave place to a sheen of
excitement, and her perfect cheeks assumed a faint, hectic flush.

For one brief moment she glanced back