s, burned brown
by the sun, that were just now clenched, forming two big fists. There had
been a humorous, tolerant twinkle in his eyes on the other occasions that
Ruth had seen him; it was as though he secretly sympathized with her
efforts to do something for his girl, though he would not openly approve.
But now she saw that his eyes were blazing with an insane frenzy, that
his lips were working, and that the muscles of his neck stood out like
great cords, strained to the bursting point.

He got up when he saw Ruth, and stood on the sand at the edge of the
porch, swaying back and forth, and Ruth's first thought was that he had
been drinking. But his first words to her revealed her mistake. It was
the light, dry voice of a violent passion that greeted her, a passion
that was almost too great for words. He ran to her pony and seized it by
the bridle:

"You know, ma'am. Tell me who treated my li'l gal like that?" His great
hands writhed in the reins. "I'll twist his buzzard's head off his
shoulders."

"What do you mean?" Ruth's own voice startled her, for the spirit of a
lie had issued from her mouth; she knew what he meant; she realized that
Uncle Jepson had told the truth.

"Don't you know, ma'am?" There was wild derision in his voice, insane
mirth. "You've been comin' here; she's been goin' to your place! An' you
don't know! You're blinder than me--an' I couldn't see at all!" He went
off into a gale of frenzied laughter, at which the dog began to bark.
Then Catherson's eyes glared cunningly. "But you've seen who's been
comin' here; you know the man's name, ma'am; an' you're goin' to tell me,
ain't you? So's I c'n talk to him--eh?"

"I don't know, Mr. Catherson." Ruth got a firm grip on herself before she
answered, and it was to save a life that she lied again, for she saw
murder in Catherson's eyes. "Where is Hagar?" she asked.

At his jerk of the head toward the cabin door Ruth got down from her
pony. She was trembling all over, but at Catherson's words all thought of
self had been banished. The effect of Masten's deed on her own life, his
duplicity, his crimes--all were forgotten. Here was her friend who had
been sinned against, needing the comfort of her presence. And in an
instant she was inside the cabin, leaning over the little figure that was
curled up in a bunk in a corner, speaking low words of cheer and
forgiveness.

Outside, Catherson paced back and forth, his lips forming soundless
words, his big h