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u seefeel how it waits here？ I moved it once； and I'll never dare again。 A strong heave would start it。 Then it would fall and bang； and smash that crag； and jar the walls； and close forever the outlet to Deception Pass！〃
〃Ah！ When you come back I'll steal up here and push and push with all my might to roll the rock and close forever the outlet to the Pass！〃 She said it lightly； but in the undercurrent of her voice was a heavier note； a ring deeper than any ever given mere play of words。
〃Bess！。。。You can't dare me！ Wait till I come back with supplies then roll the stone。〃
〃Iwasinfun。〃 Her voice now throbbed low。 〃Always you must be free to go when you will。 Go now。。。this place presses on mestifles me。〃
〃I'm goingbut you had something to tell me？〃
〃Yes。。。。Will youcome back？〃
〃I'll come if I live。〃
〃Butbut you mightn't come？〃
〃That's possible； of course。 It'll take a good deal to kill me。 A man couldn't have a faster horse or keener dog。 And； Bess； I've guns； and I'll use them if I'm pushed。 But don't worry。〃
〃I've faith in you。 I'll not worry until after four days。 Only because you mightn't comeI must tell you〃
She lost her voice。 Her pale face； her great； glowing； earnest eyes； seemed to stand alone out of the gloom of the gorge。 The dog whined； breaking the silence。
〃I must tell youbecause you mightn't come back；〃 she whispered。 〃You must know whatwhat I think of your goodnessof you。 Always I've been tongue…tied。 I seemed not to be grateful。 It was deep in my heart。 Even nowif I were other than I amI couldn't tell you。 But I'm nothingonly a rustler's girlnamelessinfamous。 You've saved me and I'mI'm yours to do with as you like。。。。With all my heart and soulI love you！〃
CHAPTER XV。 SHADOWS ON THE SAGE…SLOPE
In the cloudy； threatening； waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage…slope； and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life。
Mrs。 Larkin died； and little Fay was left an orphan with no known relative。 Jane's love redoubled。 It was the saving brightness of a darkening hour。 Fay turned now to Jane in childish worship。 And Jane at last found full expression for the mother…longing in her heart。 Upon Lassiter； too； Mrs。 Larkin's death had some subtle reaction。 Before； he had often； without explanation； advised Jane to send Fay back to any Gentile family that would take her in。 Passionately and reproachfully and wonderingly Jane had refused even to entertain such an idea。 And now Lassiter never advised it again； grew sadder and quieter in his contemplation of the child； and infinitely more gentle and loving。 Sometimes Jane had a cold； inexplicable sensation of dread when she saw Lassiter watching Fay。 What did the rider see in the future？ Why did he； day by day； grow more silent； calmer； cooler； yet sadder in prophetic assurance of something to be？
No doubt； Jane thought； the rider； in his almost superhuman power of foresight； saw behind the horizon the dark； lengthening shadows that were soon to crowd and gloom over him and her and little Fay。 Jane Withersteen awaited the long…deferred breaking of the storm with a courage and embittered calm that had come to her in her extremity。 Hope had not died。 Doubt and fear； subservient to her will； no longer gave her sleepless nights and tortured days。 Love remained。 All that she had loved she now loved the more。 She seemed to feel that she was defiantly flinging the wealth of her love in the face of misfortune and of hate。 No day passed but she prayed for alland most fervently for her enemies。 It troubled her that she had lost； or had never gained； the whole control of her mind。 In some measure reason and wisdom and decision were locked in a chamber of her brain； awaiting a key。 Power to think of some things was taken from her。 Meanwhile； abiding a day of judgment； she fought ceaselessly to deny the bitter drops in her cup； to tear back the slow； the intangibly slow growth of a hot； corrosive lichen eating into her heart。
On the morning of August 10th； Jane； while waiting in the court for Lassiter； heard a clear； ringing report of a rifle。 It came from the grove； somewhere toward the corrals。 Jane glanced out in alarm。 The day was dull； windless； soundless。 The leaves of the cottonwoods drooped； as if they had foretold the doom of Withersteen House and were now ready to die and drop and decay。 Never had Jane seen such shade。 She pondered on the meaning of the report。 Revolver shots had of late cracked from different parts of the grovespies taking snap…shots at Lassiter from a cowardly distance！ But a rifle report meant more。 Riders seldom used rifles。 Judkins and Venters were the exceptions she called to mind。 Had the men who hounded her hidden in her grove； taken to the rifle to rid her of Lassiter； her last friend？ It was probableit was likely。 And she did not share his cool assumption that his death would never come at the hands of a Mormon。 Long had she expected it。 His constancy to her； his singular reluctance to use the fatal skill for which he was famed both now plain to all Mormonslaid him open to inevitable assassination。 Yet what charm against ambush and aim and enemy he seemed to bear about him！ No； Jane reflected； it was not charm； only a wonderful training of eye and ear； and sense of impending peril。 Nevertheless that could not forever avail against secret attack。
That moment a rustling of leaves attracted her attention； then the familiar clinking accompaniment of a slow； soft； measured step； and Lassiter walked into the court。
〃Jane； there's a fellow out there with a long gun；〃 he said； and； removing his sombrero； showed his head bound in a bloody scarf。
〃I heard the shot； I knew it was meant for you。 Let me seeyou can't be badly injured？〃
〃I reckon not。 But mebbe it wasn't a close call！。。。I'll sit here in this corner where nobody can see me from the grove。〃 He untied the scarf and removed it to show a long； bleeding furrow above his left temple。
〃It's only a cut；〃 said Jane。 〃But how it bleeds！ Hold your scarf over it just a moment till I come back。〃
She ran into the house and returned with bandages； and while she bathed and dressed the wound Lassiter talked。
〃That fellow had a good chance to get me。 But he must have flinched when he pulled the trigger。 As I dodged down I saw him run through the trees。 He had a rifle。 I've been expectin' that kind of gun play。 I reckon now I'll have to keep a little closer hid myself。 These fellers all seem to get chilly or shaky when they draw a bead on me； but one of them might jest happen to hit me。〃
〃Won't you go awayleave Cottonwoods as I've begged you tobefore some one does happen to hit you？〃 she appealed to him。
〃I reckon I'll stay。〃
〃But； oh； Lassiteryour blood will be on my hands！〃
〃See here； lady； look at your hands now； right now。 Aren't they fine； firm； white hands？ Aren't they bloody now？ Lassiter's blood！ That's a queer thing to stain your beautiful hands。 But if you could only see deeper you'd find a redder color of blood。 Heart color； Jane！〃
〃Oh！。。。My friend！〃
〃No； Jane； I'm not one to quit when the game grows hot； no more than you。 This game； though； is new to me； an' I don't know the moves yet； else I wouldn't have stepped in front of that bullet。〃
〃Have you no desire to hunt the man who fired at youto find himand and kill him？〃
〃Well； I reckon I haven't any great hankerin' for that。〃
〃Oh； the wonder of it！。。。I knewI prayedI trusted。 Lassiter； I almost gaveall myself to soften you to Mormons。 Thank God； and thank you； my friend。。。。But； selfish woman that ＇ am； this is no great test。 What's the life of one of those sneaking cowards to such a man as you？ I think of your great hate toward him whoI think of your life's implacable purpose。 Can it be〃
〃Wait！。。。Listen！〃 he whispered。 〃I hear a hoss。〃
He rose noiselessly； with his ear to the breeze。 Suddenly he pulled his sombrero down over his bandaged head and； swinging his gun…sheaths round in front； he stepped into the alcove。
〃It s a hosscomin' fast；〃 he added。
Jane's listening ear soon caught a faint； rapid； rhythmic beat of hoofs。 It came from the sage。 It gave her a thrill that she was at a loss to understand。 The so