ean to get hold of you, rob
and-and-kill you, and forge the endorsement on the checks and let one
man cash them in Crater before payment can be stopped. Indeed, the gang
will see to it that Jeff stays away from Crater. Lew hinted that while
they were about it they might as well clean out the bank. It wouldn't be
the first time," she added bitterly.

She stopped then and asked for a match, and when Bud gave her one she
lighted a candle and held it up so that she could examine the walls.
"It's a natural tunnel," she volunteered in a different tone. "Somewhere
along here there is a branch that goes back into the hill and ends in a
blow-hole. But we're all right so far."

She blew out the candle and urged Boise forward, edging over to the
right.

"Wasn't that taking quite a chance, making a light?" Bud asked as they
went on.

"It was, but not so great a chance as missing the way. Jerry didn't hear
anything of them when he went to the pasture gate, and they may not come
through this way at all. They may not realize at first that you have
left, and even when they did they would not believe at first that you
had gone to Crater. You see"--and in the darkness Bud could picture her
troubled smile--"they think you are an awful fool, in some ways. The
way you bet to-day was pure madness."

"It would have been, except that I knew I could win."

"They never bet like that. They always 'figure', as they call it, that
the other fellow is going to play some trick on them. Half the time Jeff
bets against his own horse, on the sly. They all do, unless they feel
sure that their own trick is best."

"They should have done that to-day," Bud observed dryly. "But you've
explained it. They thought I'm an awful fool."

Out of the darkness came Marian's voice. "It's because you're so
different. They can't understand you."

Bud was not interested in his own foolishness just then. Something in
her voice had thrilled him anew with a desire to help her and with the
conviction that he was desperately in need of help. There was a pathetic
patience in her tone when she summarized he whole affair in those last
two sentences. It was as if she were telling him how her whole life
was darkened because she herself was different--because they could not
understand a woman so fine, so true and sweet.

"What will happen if you are missed? If you go back and discover Jerry's
handkerchief on that bush, what will you do? You can't go back if they
find ou