le for so many years, could have fallen in
love. Yet that must be the secret of his agitation.

Presently he pushed open the closet door and stepped forth. Miss
Longstreth had her head lowered upon her arms and appeared to be in
distress. At his touch she raised a quivering face.

"I think I can go now--safely," he whispered.

"Go then, if you must, but you may stay till you're safe," she replied.

"I--I couldn't thank you enough. It's been hard on me--this finding
out--and you his daughter. I feel strange. I don't understand myself
well. But I want you to know--if I were not an outlaw--a ranger--I'd lay
my life at your feet."

"Oh! You have seen so--so little of me," she faltered.

"All the same it's true. And that makes me feel more the trouble my
coming caused you."

"You will not fight my father?"

"Not if I can help it. I'm trying to get out of his way.'

"But you spied upon him."

"I am a ranger, Miss Longstreth."

"And oh! I am a rustler's daughter," she cried. "That's so much more
terrible than I'd suspected. It was tricky cattle deals I imagined he
was engaged in. But only to-night I had strong suspicions aroused."

"How? Tell me."

"I overheard Floyd say that men were coming to-night to arrange a
meeting for my father at a rendezvous near Ord. Father did not want to
go. Floyd taunted him with a name."

"What name?" queried Duane.

"It was Cheseldine."

"CHESELDINE! My God! Miss Longstreth, why did you tell me that?"

"What difference does that make?"

"Your father and Cheseldine are one and the same," whispered Duane,
hoarsely.

"I gathered so much myself," she replied, miserably. "But Longstreth is
father's real name."

Duane felt so stunned he could not speak at once. It was the girl's part
in this tragedy that weakened him. The instant she betrayed the secret
Duane realized perfectly that he did love her. The emotion was like a
great flood.

"Miss Longstreth, all this seems so unbelievable," he whispered.
"Cheseldine is the rustler chief I've come out here to get. He's only a
name. Your father is the real man. I've sworn to get him. I'm bound by
more than law or oaths. I can't break what binds me. And I must disgrace
you--wreck your lifer Why, Miss Longstreth, I believe I--I love
you. It's all come in a rush. I'd die for you if I could. How
fatal--terrible--this is! How things work out!"

She slipped to her knees, with her hands on his.

"You won't kill him?" she implored. "If