as incredulous.

She nodded affirmatively.

He bowed stiffly to her. "In that case, Miss Wharton, there seems to be
nothing more for us to talk about." He walked to the front window, and
stood on his toes, intending to call to Moreton to open the door for
Miss Wharton, when she moved close to him and seized his left arm,
drawing him suddenly toward her while he was off balance, so that when
he turned he was facing her, standing close to her.

The color that had surged into her face soon after her entrance, had
gone. Her cheeks were white and her eyes held mute appeal that, she
felt, he must respond to.

She saw the cold contempt in his eyes as he looked at her, the lurking
passion that lay deep in them, and the disgust that she should lie about
a matter that might mean life or death to him.

She must act, now, and she must sacrifice Warden. Her grasp on his arm
tightened; she clung to him in seeming frenzy, and she spoke brokenly,
pleadingly.

"Lawler, I don't believe what I said--what was written on that paper I
signed. I know you acted in self-defense; you couldn't help doing as you
did.

"Gary Warden forced me to sign that statement, Lawler--he threatened to
kill me if I didn't! He found out, some way, that I had been in the
cabin with you. And he made me sign.

"He told me that he didn't intend to charge you with the murder; he said
he merely wanted to threaten you--to keep you out of politics. Please
believe me, Lawler!"

Lawler laughed coldly, incredulously. "A minute ago you told me----"

"I did that to frighten you," she declared. "I--I thought
that--perhaps--when you saw that I would testify against you--you
would--" She paused and tried to get closer to him, but he held her off
and watched her keenly, suspiciously.

"Lawler," she urged; "don't you see? I thought you would agree to marry
me if--if I told you that. And, now----"

"An' now it don't make a damn bit of difference what you say!"
interrupted a voice from the doorway. Both Miss Wharton and Lawler
wheeled quickly, to see Sheriff Moreton standing in the room.

He was grinning hugely, though his eyes were gleaming subtly.

While Lawler and Miss Wharton watched him, he slowly tore to pieces the
statement the woman had signed, and scattered them upon the floor.

"That's all of that damned nonsense!" he declared. "Lawler, I knowed
they was somethin' behind all this. That's why I let this hussy in to
talk to you. I thought I'd hear somethi