ent an arrow of pain
through her arm. It bore her down.

"For God's sake--_don't_!" she whispered hoarsely, overwhelmed with
horror. For the cold, sharp nose of the revolver suddenly punched
her neck.

"I ain't leavin' no traces behind. Might as well be hung for a sheep
as a lamb. Never mind if I do----"

"Look!" she cried wildly. "Look, look, _look_!" And with her free
hand she pointed behind him.

It was an old trick. There was nothing behind him. But in that
instant of desperation instinct had guided her.

Involuntarily he turned.

With a scream of pain she twisted from his grasp and blotted out the
candle.

A long, livid pencil of orange flame spurted from the gun-point. She
sensed the powder-flare in her face. He had missed.

She scrambled for shelter beneath the table. The cabin was now in
inky blackness. Across that black four more threads of scarlet light
were laced. The man stumbled about seeking her, cursing with
blood-curdling blasphemy.

Suddenly he tripped and went sprawling. The gun clattered from his
bruised fingers; it struck the woman's knee.

Swiftly her hand closed upon it. The hot barrel burned her palm.

She was on her feet in an instant. Her left hand fumbled in her
blouse, and she found what had been there all along--the flash-lamp.

With her back against the door, she pulled it forth. With the gun
thrust forward for action she pressed the button.

"I've got the gun--_get up_!" she ordered. "Don't come too near me
or I'll shoot. Back up against that wall."

The bull's-eye of radiance blinded him. When his eyes became
accustomed to the light, he saw its reflection on the barrel of the
revolver. He obeyed.

"Put up your hands. Put 'em up _high_!"

"Suppose I won't?"

"I'll kill you."

"What'll you gain by that?"

"Five thousand dollars."

"Then you know who I be?"

"Yes."

"And was aimin' to take me in?"

"Yes."

"How you goin' to do that if I won't go?"

"You're goin' to find out."

"You won't get no money shootin' me."

"Yes, I will--just as much--dead as alive."

With his hands raised a little way above the level of his shoulders,
he stood rigidly at bay in the circle of light.

"Well," he croaked at last, "go ahead and shoot. I ain't aimin' to
be took--not by no woman. Shoot, damn you, and have it done with.
I'm waitin'!"

"Keep up those hands!"

"I won't!" He lowered them defiantly. "I w-wanted to m-make
Partridgeville and see the old lady. She'd 'a