attention,
reminded him of her peril, and now, what counted more with him, made
clear the probability of being discovered in her room.

"I'll have to get out of here," whispered Duane.

"Wait," she replied. "Didn't you say they were hunting for you?"

"They sure are," he returned, grimly.

"Oh, then you mustn't go. They might shoot you before you got away.
Stay. If we hear them you can hide. I'll turn out the light. I'll meet
them at the door. You can trust me. Wait till all quiets down, if we
have to wait till morning. Then you can slip out."

"I oughtn't to stay. I don't want to--I won't," Duane replied, perplexed
and stubborn.

"But you must. It's the only safe way. They won't come here."

"Suppose they should? It's an even chance Longstreth'll search every
room and corner in this old house. If they found me here I couldn't
start a fight. You might be hurt. Then--the fact of my being here--"

Duane did not finish what he meant, but instead made a step toward the
door. White of face and dark of eye, she took hold of him to detain him.
She was as strong and supple as a panther. But she need not have been
either resolute or strong, for the clasp of her hand was enough to make
Duane weak.

"Up yet, Ray?" came Longstreth's clear voice, too strained, too eager to
be natural.

"No. I'm in bed reading. Good night," instantly replied Miss Longstreth,
so calmly and naturally that Duane marveled at the difference between
man and woman. Then she motioned for Duane to hide in the closet. He
slipped in, but the door would not close altogether.

"Are you alone?" went on Longstreth's penetrating voice.

"Yes," she replied. "Ruth went to bed."

The door swung inward with a swift scrape and jar. Longstreth half
entered, haggard, flaming-eyed. Behind him Duane saw Lawson, and
indistinctly another man.

Longstreth barred Lawson from entering, which action showed control as
well as distrust. He wanted to see into the room. When he had glanced
around he went out and closed the door.

Then what seemed a long interval ensued. The house grew silent once
more. Duane could not see Miss Longstreth, but he heard her quick
breathing. How long did she mean to let him stay hidden there? Hard and
perilous as his life had been, this was a new kind of adventure. He
had divined the strange softness of his feeling as something due to the
magnetism of this beautiful woman. It hardly seemed possible that he,
who had been outside the pa