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Keller lowered his carbine instantly This plainly was no case for the coercion of arun play," he said "Better rest the hand that's reaching for the sky I expect hostilities are over"

"You certainly had me scared stiff," Weaver mocked

From the first roll of the pebble that had announced the presence of a third party, Phyl had experienced surprise after surprise She had expected to see one of the Seven Mile boys or her brother instead of Keller--had looked with a quaking heart for the cattlee of a bullet His tame surrender had aiven hi, sarcastic badinage pointed to the same conclusion Evidently he had no desire to resist Behind this must be some purpose which she could not fatho lady, have you, Mr Keller?" Buck asked pleasantly

The youngtoo ot a notion I'd take her back home"

"Best place for her," assented Weaver proht to get back to those school kids of hers But I' to take her there myself"

"Yourself!" Phyllis spoke up in quick surprise

"Why not?" The cattles?"

"No, estion was of a piece with his usual audacity The girl knew that he would be quite capable of riding with her into the hills, where he had a score of bitter, passionate ene them, if the notion should cohold Within twenty-four hours he had shot one of the smile and that hateful confidence of his

"You would not be safe They ratify you?"

"Yes!" she cried passionately

He bowed "Anything to give pleasure to a lady"

"No--you can't go! I won't go with you I wouldn't be responsible for what ht happen--another family impulse?"

"You knoell as I do--after what you've done And there's bad blood between you already Besides, you are so reckless, so inteo with o alone," he said

She appealed to Keller to support her, but the latter shook his head

"No use A wilful o But whyfor should I be euchred out ofto keep the peace"