"Nothing."

"There is--a man's step."

And she, seeing the look on his face, covered her eyes in nameless
horror. When she looked up a great form was looming through the dark,
and then the voice of Wilbur came, hard and cold.

"I've looked everywhere for you. Miss Brown, they are anxious about
you in the schoolhouse. Will you go back?"

"No--I----"

But Pierre commanded: "Go back."

So she turned, and he ordered again: "I think our friend has something
to say to me. You can find your way easily. To-morrow----"

"To-morrow, Pierre?"

"Yes."

"I shall be waiting."

With what a voice she said it! And then she was gone.

He turned quietly to big Dick Wilbur, on whose contorted face the
moonlight fell.

"Say it, Dick, and have it out in cursing me, if that 'll help."

The big man stood with his hands gripped hard behind him, fighting for
self-control.

"Pierre, I've cared for you more than I've cared for any other man.
I've thought of you like a kid brother. Now tell me that you haven't
done this thing, and I'll believe you rather than my senses. Tell me
you haven't come like a thief in the night and stolen the girl I love
away from me; tell me----"

"If you keep on like that, you'll end by jumping at my throat. Hold
yourself, Dick."

"I will if you'll tell me that you haven't----"

"I love her, Dick."

"Damn you! And she?"

"She'll forget me; God knows I hope she'll forget me."

"I brought two guns with me. Here they are."

He held out the weapons.

"Take your choice."

"Does it have to be this way?"

"If you'd rather have me shoot you down in cold blood?"

"I suppose this is as good a way as any."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing. Give me a gun."

"Here. This is ten paces. Are you ready?"

"Yes."

"Pierre. God forgive you for what you've done. She liked me, I know.
If it weren't for you, I would have won her and a chance for real life
again--but now--damn you!"

"I'll count to ten, slowly and evenly. When I reach ten we fire?"

"Yes."

"I'll trust you not to beat the count, Dick."

"And I you. Start."

He counted quietly, evenly: "One, two, three, four, five six, seven,
eight, nine--ten."

The gun jerked up in the hand of Wilbur, but he stayed the movement
with his finger pressing still upon the trigger. The hand of Pierre
had not moved.

He cried: "By God, Pierre, what do you mean?"

There was no answer. He strode across the intervening space dropped