e
bridge and though it was impossible to distinguish more than the shadowy
outline of his figure, Montgomery was certain that it was Marshall
Langham. His first impulse was to turn back and go into town by the
wagon road and the wooden bridge, but as he hesitated the figure came
toward him, and Langham spoke.

"Is that you, Joe?" he asked.

"Damn him, he knows I won't stand for hangin' North!" the handy-man told
himself under his breath. He added aloud as he shuffled forward, "Yes,
it's me, boss!"

"Couldn't you make it right with Nellie?" asked Langham.

"Oh, it isn't that--the old woman's all right--but the baby's sick and
I'm out huntin' a doctor."

He did not expect Langham to believe him, but on the spur of the moment
he could think of nothing better.

"I am sorry to hear that!" said Langham.

An evil wolfish light stole into his eyes and the lines of his weak
debauched face hardened.

"What's the matter with you, boss; couldn't you get across?" asked Joe.

"No, the bridge is too much for me. Like a fool I stopped here to smoke
a cigar after you left me; I hoped it would clear off a bit so I could
see the ties, but it's worse now that I can. I had about made up my mind
to come and get you to help me back into town."

"Come along, boss, I'm in a terrible hurry!" said Joe eagerly.

But Langham was a pace or two in advance of him when they stepped out
on the bridge. Never once did he glance in the handy-man's direction.
Had he done so, Montgomery must have been aware that his face showed
bloodless in the moonlight, while his sunken eyes blazed with an
unaccustomed fire.

"I can't walk these ties, Joe--give me your hand--" he managed to say.

Joe did as he desired, and as the lawyer's slim fingers closed about his
great fist he was conscious that a cold moisture covered them. He could
only think of a dead man's hand.

"What's wrong with the baby, Joe?" Langham asked.

"Seems like it's got a croup," said Joe promptly.

"That's too bad--"

"Yes, it's a hell of a pity," agreed Montgomery.

He was furtively watching Langham out of the corners of his beady blue
eyes; his inner sense of things told him it was well to do this. They
took half a dozen steps and Langham released Joe's hand.

"I wonder if I can manage this alone!" he said. But apparently the
attempt was a failure, for he quickly rested his hand on his companion's
massive shoulder.

They had reached the second of the bridge's three spans.