have happened--have happened, I
tell you--my God! we are all double--that is if we are anything--two
halves to us--and my half--my other half, got lost till the other
night and left this aching, pitiful, womanly thing behind, that
bleeds to the touch and has tears. Why, man, I am either an angel, a
devil, or both. Don't you go there and touch that little child, nor
thrust your damned moral Caliban monstrosity into that sweet isle,
nor break up with your seared conscience the glory of that unselfish
act. If you do I'll kill you, Jud Carpenter--I'll kill you!"

Jud turned and walked to the water bucket, took a drink and squirted
it through his teeth.

He was working for thinking time: "He's crazy--he's sho' crazy--" he
said to himself. Coming back, he said:

"Pardon me, Mr. Travis--but the oldes' gyrl--what--what about her,
you know?"

"She's mine, isn't she? I've won her--outgeneraled the others--by
brains and courage. She should belong to my harem--to my band--as
the stallion of the plains when he beats off with tooth and hoof and
neck of thunder his rival, and takes his mares."

Jud nodded, looking at him quizzically.

"Well, what about it?" asked Travis.

"Nothin'--only this"--then he lowered his voice as he came
nearer--"the ole 'oman will be after her in an hour--an' she'll take
her--tell her all. Maybe you'll see somethin' to remind you of Jesus
Christ in that."

Travis smiled.

"Well," went on Jud, "you'd better take her now--while the whole
thing has played into yo' hands; but she--the oldes' gyrl--she don't
know the ole 'oman's come back an' made her a home; that her father
is sober an' there with her little sister, that Clay is away an'
ain't deserted her. She don't know anything, an' when you set her out
in that empty house, deserted, her folks all deserted her, as she'll
think, don't you know she'll go to the end of the worl' with you?"

"Well?" asked Travis as he smiled calmly.

"Well, take her and thank Jud Carpenter for the Queen of the
Valley--eh?" and he laughed and tried to nudge Travis familiarly, but
the latter moved away.

"I'll take her," at last he said.

"She'll go to The Gaffs with you"--went on Jud. "There she's safe.
Then to-night you can drive her to the train at Lenox, as we told
Biggers."

He came over and whispered in Travis's ear.

"That worked out beautifully," said Travis after a while, "but I'll
not trust her to you or to Charley Biggers. I'll take her
myself--she'