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e he is." "I will." "Try also to do all in your power for that poor young man Bernard Brandon, who, you told me, had been crazed by a bullet-wound, doubtless given by this very--murderer." "Yes, I shot him, and killed Dave Dockery, the driver, and a miner at the same time," was the remark of the masked road-agent, delivered with the utmost effrontery. "You seem proud of your red work, sir." "Yes, killing is a trade with me just now." Celeste Seldon turned from him with disgust and horror, and, addressing Harding, continued: "Ask the one you spoke of as Doctor Dick to do all in his power for that poor sufferer, and he shall be well rewarded for it. When I am released I will go to Last Chance, as it was my intention, and do all I can to find my father, and minister to the sufferings of poor Mr. Brandon. Now, I thank you once more and bid you good-by." Harding clasped her hand, dared not to trust himself to speak, but there were volumes in the look of intense hatred he cast upon the masked face of the road-agent chief. Then he mounted to the stage-box, gathered up his lines, and drove away in a silence that was most expressive. Harding glanced back as he came to the end of the canyon, but saw that the road-agents and their fair prisoner had already disappeared. Then the lash descended upon the backs of the startled horses and the team was sent along at a pace that was dangerous indeed. But Harding could only find vent for his pent-up feelings by rapid and reckless driving, and never before had the distance between the Dead Line and Last Chance been covered in the time in which he made it. Notwithstanding his delay at the Dead Line, he went thundering up the valley half an hour ahead of time, and when he drew rein before the hotel his horses were reeking with foam and panting like hard-run hounds, while his face was white, his eyes ablaze with anger and indignation, and his teeth set firmly. "Great God! Harding, what has happened?" cried Landlord Larry in alarm. Throwing the mail at the feet of the surprised landlord, Harding leaped to the ground and said hoarsely: "Come, I wish to speak to you." He led the way into the office and then told the whole story. "We will mount a hundred men and go in pursuit at once," cried Larry. "What! do you forget his threat?" "What threat?" "To kill the girl!" "He will not do it." "He will." "No, he dare not." "You do not know him--I d
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