before her; why she had permitted herself to love a being so depraved, so
entirely lacking in principle.

But a thrill of hope swept over her. Perhaps Doubler would not die? She
had been considering the situation from the viewpoint of the nester's
death, but if Dakota had really been in earnest and had gone for a doctor,
there was a chance that the tragedy which seemed so imminent would be
turned into something less serious. Immediately her spirits rose and she
was able to smile quietly at Langford when he continued:

"Dakota will be hung, of course; decency demands it. When Duncan came to
me with the news I sent him instantly to Lazette to inform the sheriff of
what had happened. Undoubtedly he will take Dakota into custody at once."

"But not for murder," said Sheila evenly, unable to keep a quiver of
triumph out of her voice.

"Not?" said Langford, startled. "Why not?"

"Because," returned Sheila, enjoying the sudden consternation that was
revealed in her father's face, and drawling her words a little to further
confound him; "because Doubler isn't dead."

"Not dead!" Langford's jaws sagged, and he sat looking at Sheila with
wide, staring, vacuous eyes. "Not dead?" he repeated hoarsely. "Why,
Duncan told me he had examined him, that he had been shot through the
lungs and had bled to death before he left him! How do you know that he is
not dead?" he suddenly demanded, leaning toward her, a wild hope in his
eyes.

"I went to his cabin before noon," said Sheila. "I found him lying in the
doorway. He had been shot through the right side, near the shoulder, but
not through the lung, and he was still alive. I dragged him into the cabin
and did what I could for him. Then I started for the doctor."

"For the doctor?" he said incredulously. "Then how does it happen that you
are here? You couldn't possibly ride to Lazette and return by this time!"

"I believe I said that I 'started' for the doctor," said Sheila with a
quiet smile. She was enjoying his excitement. "I met Dakota on the trail,
and he went."

Langford continued to stare at her; it seemed that he could not realize
the truth. Then suddenly he was out of his chair and standing over her,
his face bloated poisonously, his eyes ablaze with a malignant light.

"Damn you!" he shrieked. "This is what comes of your infernal meddling!
What business had you to interfere? Why didn't you let him die? I've a
notion----"

His hands clenched and unclenched before he