the coast, where you would board a yacht and carry her out of the
country."

"That's a----" began Barrows.

"Don't let the word lie pass your lips as applied to me, or I'll jam it
down your throat," said Ted, advancing toward the officer, who turned
pale and retreated.

"You shouldn't tell your intentions to such irresponsible persons as the
Woofer, here. He told all about it early this morning so loud that the
whole of Montana might have heard it if they had been awake. I heard it,
and if Woofer denies saying that you did say so, then he's a liar, and
I'm personally responsible for everything I say."

"I did say so, and I heard the lieutenant say so," said Woofer
defiantly.

"Another thing, I have in my pocketbook scraps of a letter written by
you in which you say you have sent Paris green out to poison our cattle,
and you did succeed in a way, but not as you wished. Barrows, your game
is played. You are at the end. I shall see that the proper authorities
get all the details of this, and you know what will happen then. You
will be chased out of the army like a mad dog, and all the influence you
can bring to bear will not serve you."

Barrows was looking at Ted with terror in his eyes.

"My advice to you is to skip before the army gets on to you," continued
Ted. "Disappear. Obliterate yourself. It will be easier for you to be
thought a deserter than what will be thought of you if what we know
about you goes back to the post."

Barrows stepped back into the cabin, and Ted walked to where he could
keep his eye on the soldier.

Suddenly he jumped into the cabin and wrenched a pistol out of Barrows'
hand.

"No, you don't," he cried angrily. "You can't pay for this by
self-murder. You've got to live to pay for your meanness."

Barrows submitted to be disarmed by Ted. He stood looking for a moment
at Hallie, and for a moment it seemed as if he would speak to her. Then,
with a cry of agony, he rushed across the open, leaped upon his horse,
and, plunging into the grove, was lost to sight.

"Sergeant, now you know what to do," said Ted. "There's only one thing
for you to do. Hike for the post and tell the commandant anything you
like to explain the absence of Barrows. But be sure to say to the
colonel that his daughter is safe and well and prefers to stay with Miss
Fosdick and her friends. I don't know how deeply you are mixed up in
this cattle-poisoning, girl-abducting scheme of Barrows, but I give you
the benef