le snapped out.

He ran across the cabin, flung the door open, sprang out. The
uselessness of seeking his enemy in the black wet gloom was only too
evident, but he would not give up. Gun in hand, he stood listening for
sound of fleeing footsteps.

A light hand gripped his arm. Janet had followed him out, was at his
side. Barely audible he heard her quick, excited breathing.

"Must you shoot him?" she whispered.

"Why spare him for more deviltry? But I'll not have the chance now."

"I can't bear to think of even his blood being on our hands. Let him
go," Janet said.

"He's gone without our permission, I'd say."

"Isn't it just as well? I'm not harmed, and he'll never dare show his
face in San Mateo again," she said. "He'll have to stay away; he'll
leave for good."

"Not until I see him first. I want that paper."

"Oh, the paper, I forgot it! And it's in his pocket," she cried, in
despair.

"Like the fool I was, I forgot it for the moment too," Steele said
bitterly. "When I could have had it at once I must go off ranting
about his meanness. It was thought of what he had done to you that
made me overlook the paper; that set me boiling. Lost my head."

Janet's answer was almost sufficient recompense for even such a
serious deprivation as that of the document.

"I'll never forget that you were angry in my behalf," she said,
softly. "But perhaps you can gain possession of the paper yet."

Before he could make a reply the sound of a motor engine startled
them. Sorenson was in his car, not far off. Weir immediately plunged
forward through the darkness in the direction of the noise, uttering a
shout for the man to stop or be shot. But after the taste of liberty
that he already had had Sorenson was prepared to take further chances;
the engine's roar burst into full volume and the car leaped ahead,
while its driver sent back a derisive curse to the cabin.

Weir fired again, fired two or three times at the sound. Perhaps
Sorenson was crouching safely out of range; at any rate, the bullets
did not reach him, for the automobile plunged away. Steele slowly went
back to the girl.

"How can he see without lights?" she questioned.

"He can't see, but he'd rather risk not seeing the road than drawing
my fire. There's a bad place there at the rock; he'd better turn on
his lamps if he wants to round that."

Sensing the danger that threatened Sorenson, both remained unmoving,
trying to penetrate the darkness, harkening