m all O. K. Bud shot
me an' I'm glad, because now I can ask you t' forgive me. Y' see, he'd
have got old Geoff sure if it hadn't been for me, so you--you will
forgive me, won't you?"

For answer Hermione bent and kissed his pallid cheek.

"I'll go and 'phone for the doctor," said Ravenslee.

"Which," said Mrs. Trapes, "I done ten minutes ago, Mr. Geoffrey.
Doctor'll be right along."

Ravenslee turned to Spike.

"How are you now, old fellow?"

"Only a bit sick, like. But say, Geoff--I know I played it low down on
you, but--will you--shake an' try t' forget?"

Ravenslee took and held the boy's outstretched hand.

"I think we're going to be better friends than ever, Spike!"

"Good!" said Spike, smiling wearily, "but say, Geoff--dear old Geoff--if
I got t' die I don't mind--because I guess this makes us quits at
last--don't it, Geoff?"

CHAPTER XLIV

RETRIBUTION

Half-stunned by a blow from Joe's mighty fist, M'Ginnis saw Heine
felled by Spider, who, having promptly and scientifically kicked him
unconscious, snatched the revolver from his lax fingers and turned to
pursue. As he came M'Ginnis fired rapidly but, dazed by the blow, his
aim was wild, so he turned and ran, with the Spider in hot pursuit. The
moon was down, and it was very dark, and soon M'Ginnis found himself in
the denser gloom of trees. On he ran, twisting and doubling, on and on,
until spent and breathless, he paused to hearken. Far away, voices
shouted to each other, voices that gradually grew more distant; so,
finally having caught his breath, M'Ginnis went on again. But the wood
was full of noises--strange rustling and sudden, soft night sounds--and
at every sound the fugitive paused to listen, finger on trigger. And
ever as he went the wild blood throbbed and pulsed within his brain,
sounding now like the pad-pad of pursuing feet that would not be shaken
off, and again like a voice that mumbled and muttered querulous words in
the air about him, and at such times he glanced around upon the dark,
but the words would not be stilled:

"She's married--married--married! You drove her into his arms--you
did--you did--you did! And he's alive still and with her,
alive--alive--alive!"

And sometimes as he stumbled along through that place of gloom, he
cursed bitterly beneath his breath, and sometimes he ground sweating
jaws since needs must he hearken to that taunting devil-voice:

"Alive and with his wife beside him--alive! And yours th