ng the awful silence. She moved to the middle of the room, as if
following the summons.

"The desert, my dream," she whispered, in awe.

"He is gone out of our lives forever," cried Jack, facing her with arms
outstretched.

"And you let him go away in the belief that I knew him to be living?"
accused the wife.

"What will not a man do to keep the woman he loves? Dick Lane has gone
from our lives, he will never return," argued Jack.

"He must," screamed Echo. "There is a crime charged against you--he
must return to prove your story as to the money--He must know through
your own lips the lie that separated us."

"You love him--you love him." Jack kept repeating the words, aghast at
the knowledge that Echo seemed to be forcing upon him.

"Bring him back to me." Firmly she spoke.

Jack gazed at her in fear. Chokingly he cried again: "You love him!"

"I don't know. All I know is that he has suffered, is suffering now,
through your treachery; bring him back to me, that I may stand face to
face with him, and say: 'I have not lied to you, I have not betrayed
your trust.'"

"You love him," he repeated.

"Find him--bring him back."

Jack was helpless, speechless. Echo's attitude overpowered him.

The wife staggered again to the piano, slowly sinking to the seat. She
had turned her back on him. This action hurt him more than any word
she had spoken. Her face was buried in her hands. Deep sobs shook her
shoulders.

Jack followed her, to take her again in his arms, but she made no sign
of forgiveness. Turning, he strode to the rack, and took down his hat
and cartridge-belt. Picking up his rifle, he firmly declared: "I will
go. I'll search the plains, the mountains, and the deserts to find
this man. I will offer my life, if it will serve to place the life you
love beside you. Good-bye."

The sound of the closing of the door roused Echo to a full realization
of what she had done. She had driven the one man she really loved out
of her life; sent him forth to wander over the face of the earth in
search of Dick Lane, for whom she no longer cared. She must bring her
husband back. She must know that he alone had her heart in his keeping.

"No, no, Jack--come back!" she called. "I love you, and you alone--come
back! come back!"

Before she could throw open the door and summon him back to happiness
and trust, Bud, who had heard the full confession from the room in
which he had taken refuge when he th