ome magnificent
amend for her anger; she would give some manifestation of her love;
probably all in a moment, as she had loved Milly Erne, so would she love
Elizabeth Erne.

"'Pears to me, folks, that we'd better talk a little serious now,"
remarked Lassiter, at length. "Time flies."

"You're right," replied Venters, instantly. "I'd forgotten
time--place--danger. Lassiter, you're riding away. Jane's leaving
Withersteen House?"

"Forever," replied Jane.

"I fired Withersteen House," said Lassiter.

"Dyer?" questioned Venters, sharply.

"I reckon where Dyer's gone there won't be any kidnappin' of girls."

"Ah! I knew it. I told Judkins--And Tull?" went on Venters,
passionately.

"Tull wasn't around when I broke loose. By now he's likely on our trail
with his riders."

"Lassiter, you're going into the Pass to hide till all this storm blows
over?"

"I reckon that's Jane's idea. I'm thinkin' the storm'll be a powerful
long time blowin' over. I was comin' to join you in Surprise Valley.
You'll go back now with me?"

"No. I want to take Bess out of Utah. Lassiter, Bess found gold in the
valley. We've a saddle-bag full of gold. If we can reach Sterling--"

"Man! how're you ever goin' to do that? Sterlin' is a hundred miles."

"My plan is to ride on, keeping sharp lookout. Somewhere up the trail
we'll take to the sage and go round Cottonwoods and then hit the trail
again."

"It's a bad plan. You'll kill the burros in two days."

"Then we'll walk."

"That's more bad an' worse. Better go back down the Pass with me."

"Lassiter, this girl has been hidden all her life in that lonely place,"
went on Venters. "Oldring's men are hunting me. We'd not be safe there
any longer. Even if we would be I'd take this chance to get her out.
I want to marry her. She shall have some of the pleasures of life--see
cities and people. We've gold--we'll be rich. Why, life opens sweet
for both of us. And, by Heaven! I'll get her out or lose my life in the
attempt!"

"I reckon if you go on with them burros you'll lose your life all right.
Tull will have riders all over this sage. You can't get out on them
burros. It's a fool idea. That's not doin' best by the girl. Come with
me en' take chances on the rustlers."

Lassiter's cool argument made Venters waver, not in determination to go,
but in hope of success.

"Bess, I want you to know. Lassiter says the trip's almost useless now.
I'm afraid he's right. We've got about one chan