ed it, was
waiting for it; nevertheless, an electric shock checked her heart, froze
the very living fiber of her bones. That vise-like hold on her faculties
apparently did not relax for a long time, and it was a voice under her
window that released her.

"Jane!... Jane!" softly called Lassiter.

She answered somehow.

"It's all right. Venters got away. I thought mebbe you'd heard that
shot, en' I was worried some."

"What was it--who fired?"

"Well--some fool feller tried to stop Venters out there in the sage--an'
he only stopped lead!... I think it'll be all right. I haven't seen or
heard of any other fellers round. Venters'll go through safe. An', Jane,
I've got Bells saddled, an' I'm going to trail Venters. Mind, I won't
show myself unless he falls foul of somebody an' needs me. I want to see
if this place where he's goin' is safe for him. He says nobody can track
him there. I never seen the place yet I couldn't track a man to. Now,
Jane, you stay indoors while I'm gone, an' keep close watch on Fay. Will
you?"

"Yes! Oh yes!"

"An' another thing, Jane," he continued, then paused for long--"another
thing--if you ain't here when I come back--if you're gone--don't fear,
I'll trail you--I'll find you out."

"My dear Lassiter, where could I be gone--as you put it?" asked Jane, in
curious surprise.

"I reckon you might be somewhere. Mebbe tied in an old barn--or
corralled in some gulch--or chained in a cave! Milly Erne was--till she
give in! Mebbe that's news to you.... Well, if you're gone I'll hunt for
you."

"No, Lassiter," she replied, sadly and low. "If I'm gone just forget the
unhappy woman whose blinded selfish deceit you repaid with kindness and
love."

She heard a deep, muttering curse, under his breath, and then the
silvery tinkling of his spurs as he moved away.

Jane entered upon the duties of that day with a settled, gloomy calm.
Disaster hung in the dark clouds, in the shade, in the humid west wind.
Blake, when he reported, appeared without his usual cheer; and Jerd
wore a harassed look of a worn and worried man. And when Judkins put
in appearance, riding a lame horse, and dismounted with the cramp of
a rider, his dust-covered figure and his darkly grim, almost dazed
expression told Jane of dire calamity. She had no need of words.

"Miss Withersteen, I have to report--loss of the--white herd," said
Judkins, hoarsely.

"Come, sit down, you look played out," replied Jane, solicitously. She