s as she hastened. Dipping
deeper into the hollow, the man ahead, riding with his gaze upon the
ground, became aware of the sound of running feet behind him, and then a
voice which made his pulses leap called his name in suppressed, cautious
tones. He looked back to see Judith hurrying after him, her cheeks aflame
from running, the sunbonnet carried in her hand, and her dark locks
freeing themselves in little moist tendrils about her brow where the tiny
beads of perspiration gathered.

"You dropped this," she panted, offering the paper when she came abreast
of him.

For a moment she stood by the old mule's shoulder looking up into the
eyes of his rider. It was the reversal of that first day when Creed had
stood so looking up at her. Some memory of it struggled in her, and
appealed for his life, anyhow, from that fierce primitive jealousy which
would have sacrificed the lover of the other woman.

"I--I knowed the paper wasn't likely anything you needed," she told him.
"I jest had to have speech with you alone. I want to warn you. The boys
is out after you. They ain't no hope, ef the Turrentines gits after you.
Likely we're both watched right now. You'll have to leave the
mountains."

Creed got quickly from the mule and stood facing her, a little pale and
very stern.

"Do you hold with them?" he asked. "I had no intention of killing Blatch.
The quarrel was forced on me, as they would say if they told the truth."

"Well, they won't tell the truth," said Judith impatiently. "What differ
does it make how come it? They're bound to run ye out. Hit's a question
of yo' life ef ye don't go. I--I don't know what makes me come an' warn
ye--but you and Huldy had better git to the settlement as soon as ye
can."

Creed saw absolutely nothing in her coupling of his name with Huldah
Spiller's, but the fact that both were under the displeasure of the
Turrentines. She searched his face with hungry gaze for some sign of
denial of that which she imputed. Instead, she met a look of swift
distress.

"I've got to see Wade about Huldah," Creed asserted doggedly. "I promised
her--I told her----"

Judith drew back.

"Well, see Wade then!" she choked. "There he is," and she pointed to the
wall of greenery behind which her quicker eyes had detected a man who
stole, rifle on shoulder, through the bushes toward a point by the
path-side.

"What do I care?" she flung at him. "What is it to me?--you and your
Huldy, and your grand plans,