eveny. He had hated
Haydon, too--from the first. In the beginning it had been a jealous
hatred, aroused over the conviction that Barbara loved the man. But
later--when he had discovered that Haydon was the mysterious "Chief,"
that he was the real murderer of Lane Morgan, and that behind his
professed love for the girl was meditated trickery--his hatred had become
a passion in which Barbara did not figure.

His hatred for Haydon, though, could not be compared with the passionate
contempt and loathing he felt for Deveny. The man had attempted, in Lamo,
a thing that Harlan had always abhorred, and the memory of that time was
still vivid in Harlan's brain.

Into Harlan's heart as he rode toward the Star flamed that ancient
loathing, paling his face and bringing a gleam to his eyes that had been
in them often of late--a lust for the lives of the men whose evil deeds
and sinister influence had kept Barbara a virtual prisoner at the Rancho
Seco.

He rode the valley trail slowly, his thoughts upon Barbara, his lips
straightening when he thought of how he would have to return to the
Rancho Seco, some day, to tell her of her brother's death. Twice had
tragedy visited her, and again he would be the messenger to bring her the
grim news.

When he reached the Star he rode up to the corral fence and dismounted.
He stood for a long time at the fence, his elbows on one of the rails,
his thoughts dwelling upon Barbara. Pity for her whitened his face, set
his lips in rigid lines.

She had been in danger, but it seemed to him that it would soon be over.
For Haydon would bother the girl no more, and as soon as he could meet
Deveny he would remove another menace to Barbara's life and happiness.

He had no regrets for the men he had killed; they deserved what he had
given them. As he had told Morgan, he had considered himself merely an
instrument of the law of right and justice--which law was based upon the
very principle that governed men in civilized communities.

He was facing south, and he raised his head after a few minutes, for upon
the slight breeze was borne to him the rapid drumming of hoofs. As he
looked up he saw, far out toward the southern edge of the valley, a dust
cloud, moving swiftly toward him.

At first he suspected that the men in the group belonged to Deveny, and
he drew out his pistols, one after the other, and examined them--for he
decided--if Deveny was among the men--to settle for good the question of
power