e heah somewheres--but it ain't in you."

"Larry, talk sense. I'm weak from long waiting. Oh, tell me of Neale!"

What a strange, curious, incomprehensible glance he gave her!

"Allie--Neale's heah in Benton. I can take you to him in ten minutes. Do
you want me to?"

"Want you to!... Reddy! I'll die if you don't take me--at once!" she
cried, in anguish.

Again Larry loomed over her. This time he took her hands. "How long had
you been heah--before I came?" he asked.

"Half an hour, perhaps; maybe less. But it seemed long."

"Do you--know--what kind of a house you're in--this heah room--what it
means?" he went on, very low and huskily.

"No, I don't," she replied, instantly, with sudden curiosity. Questions
and explanations rushed to her lips. But this strangely acting Larry
dominated her.

"No other man--came in heah? I--was the first?"

"Yes."

Then Larry King seemed to wrestle with--himself--with the hold drink had
upon him--with that dark and sinister oppression so thick in the room.
Allie thrilled to see his face grow soft and light up with the smile she
remembered. How strange to feel in Larry King a spirit of gladness, of
gratefulness for something beyond her understanding! Again he drew her
close. And Allie, keen to read and feel him, wondered why he seemed to
want to hide the sight of his face.

"Wal--I reckon--I was nigh onto bein' drunk," he said, haltingly. "Shore
is a bad habit of mine--Allie.... Makes me think of a lot of--guff--jest
the same as it makes me see snakes--an' things.... I'll quit drinkin',
Allie.... Never will touch liquor again--now if you'll jest forgive."

He spoke gently, huskily, with tears in his voice, and he broke off
completely.

"Forgive! Larry, boy, there's nothing to forgive--except your not
hurrying me to--to him!"

She felt the same violent start in him. He held her a moment longer.
Then, when he let go of her and stepped back Allie saw the cowboy as of
old, cool and easy, yet somehow menacing, as he had been that day the
strangers rode into Slingerland's camp.

"Allie--thet woman Stanton locked you in heah?" queried Larry.

"Yes. Then she--"

Larry's quick gesture enjoined silence. Stealthy steps sounded out in
the hall. They revived Allie's fear of Durade and his men. It struck
her suddenly that Larry must be ignorant of the circumstances that had
placed her there.

The cowboy unlocked the door--peeped out. As he turned, how clear and
cold his blue eyes