yes and saw Letts at her side, and Griggs with an open
book in front of her, she wheeled away without a word.

"Marry him!" cried Waldstricker.

"No," said Tess.

"Letts, take hold of her hand," commanded the elder.

Sandy, rage working alive in his eyes, tried to obey the churchman. But
the girl took another step away.

"Gimme yer hand," growled Sandy.

All he wanted was to get the squatter girl into his possession. He had
not forgotten the threats he had made in other days, and in another
hour, he would wring from her the name he wanted.

"No," said Tess again.

"You mean you're not going to marry Mr. Letts?" asked Griggs.

Tessibel caught her breath, swayed, but shook her head.

"No, I ain't goin' to marry 'im," she answered.

Marry Sandy Letts, a man she hated! Of course she couldn't!... She was
already married. She couldn't commit such a sin as that, not even
if--if--She turned a little and glanced in the direction of Frederick,
but dropped her eyes before they found him.

Waldstricker grew intense with suspense, and a sudden determination to
test his and Madelene's suspicions came over him.

"Frederick," he cried, "come here and help us force this huzzy to marry
the man who betrayed her!"

Frederick rose from his chair as though to obey, and in turning, looked
squarely into the girl's eyes.

"My God, Eb, I can't!" he protested, his voice thick with horror. "Let
her go, Eb! For God's sake, man, you can't marry her against her will!
Let her go!"

He sank down, and rested his head on his arms upon the chair back, his
shoulders shaking violently.

The minister came to Tessibel's side. He placed a pitying hand on her
head, facing his elders.

"Let her go home, brethren," he entreated. "You can't make her do this
thing if she refuses, and the ... business can go on without her."

"She's a wicked girl," snorted Ebenezer, with a bitter twist of his
lips.

"I say to let her go," repeated Griggs.

"And I say she shall be punished," Waldstricker glared from the minister
to the elders and then rested his gaze on Frederick, who was by this
time sobbing in great gulps.

Pastor Griggs considered his parishioner's angry face. Griggs was young
and stood in awe of some members of his flock--Waldstricker most of all,
but the sight of the girl in such anguish overcame his timidity, and he
cried:

"Let him that is without sin among you first cast a stone at her."

Tessibel sank sobbing to the floor, and