report of a
gun."

Bridge awoke about the same time, and turned lazily over, raising
himself upon an elbow. He grinned at Billy.

"Good morning," he said, and then:

Says I, "Then let's be on the float. You certainly have got my goat;
You make me hungry in my throat for seeing things that's new. Out there
somewhere we'll ride the range a-looking for the new and strange; My
feet are tired and need a change. Come on! It's up to you!"

"Come on, then," agreed Billy, coming to his feet.

As he rose there came, faintly, but distinct, the unmistakable scream
of a frightened woman. From the direction of the farmhouse it came--from
the farmhouse at which Billy had purchased their breakfast.

Without waiting for a repetition of the cry Billy wheeled and broke into
a rapid run in the direction of the little cluster of buildings. Bridge
leaped to his feet and followed him, dropping behind though, for he
had not had the road work that Billy recently had been through in his
training for the battle in which he had defeated the "white hope" that
time in New York when Professor Cassidy had wagered his entire pile upon
him, nor in vain.

Dink searched about the summer kitchen for an ax or hatchet; but failing
to find either rummaged through a table drawer until he came upon a
large carving knife. This would do the job nicely. He thumbed the edge
as he carried it back into the parlor to Crumb.

The poor woman, lying upon the floor, was quite conscious. Her eyes were
wide and rolling in horror. She struggled with her bonds, and tried to
force the gag from her mouth with her tongue; but her every effort was
useless. She had heard every word that had passed between the two men.
She knew that they would carry out the plan they had formulated and that
there was no chance that they would be interrupted in their gruesome
work, for her husband had driven over to a farm beyond Holliday, leaving
before sunrise, and there was little prospect that he would return
before milking time in the evening. The detectives from Kansas City
could not possibly reach the farm until far too late to save her.

She saw Dink return from the summer kitchen with the long knife. She
recalled the day she had bought that knife in town, and the various uses
to which she had put it. That very morning she had sliced some bacon
with it. How distinctly such little things recurred to her at this
frightful moment. And now the hideous creature standing beside her w