ly and began to swallow nervously. When he spoke again it
was with a perceptible change of manner. "And when I don't write and she
never hears why she will say, 'he's forgotten me,' and that will be
about enough for her to remember, because she loved me before she knew
what I was--and you can't change love in a minute."

All the while Johnson had been speaking the Sheriff's jealousy had been
growing steadily until, finally, turning upon the other with a
succession of oaths he struck him a fierce blow in the face.

"I don't blame you," returned the prisoner without a trace of malice in
his voice. "Strike me again--strike me--one death is not enough for me.
Damn me--I wish you could . . . Oh, why couldn't I have let her pass!
I'm sorry I came her way--but it's too late now, it's too late . . ."

Rance, not in the least affected by what the prisoner had been saying,
asked if that was his last word.

Johnson nodded.

Trinidad, simultaneously with his nod, snapped his finger, indicating
that the prisoner's time was up.

"Dep!" called the Sheriff, sharply.

The Deputy came forward and took his prisoner in charge.

"Good-bye, sir!" said Nick, who was visibly affected.

"Good-bye!" returned the prisoner, briefly. "You tell the Girl--no, come
to think of it, Nick, don't say anything . . ."

"Come on, you!" ordered Happy.

Whereupon with a shout and an imprecation the men removed en masse to
the door.

"Boys," intervened Nick at this juncture, rushing into their midst,
"when Alliger was hanged Rance let 'im see his sweetheart. I think,
considerin' as how she ain't goin' to see no more o' Mr. Johnson here,
an' knowin' the Girl's feelin's--well, I think she ought to have a
chance to--"

Nick was not allowed to finish, for instantly the men were up in arms
raising a most vigorous objection to his proposal; but, notwithstanding,
Nick, evidently bent upon calling the Girl, started for the door.

"No," objected Rance, obstinately.

The road agent took a step forward and, turning upon the Sheriff with a
desperately hopeless expression upon his face, he said:

"Jack Rance, there were two of us--I've had my chance. Inside of ten
minutes I'll be dead and it will be all your way. Couldn't you let me--"

He paused, and ended almost piteously with:

"Oh, I thought I'd have the courage not to ask, but, Oh, couldn't you
let me--couldn't you--"

Once more Nick intervened by shrewdly prevaricating:

"Here's the Girl, boys