“If you remain here, knowing as he does that you are my brother, Buffalo Bill will prevent your escape, for he will put spies upon this hotel and you will be captured when you least expect it.” “It looks bad for me, sis.” “Yes, unless you go at once from here.” “How can I?” “I will go to the stable and get my best horse for you, yes, two of them, for one you can use as a pack-animal. I will fit you up a disguise, some provisions to last you a week or more, and when all is in readiness you can meet me at the cliff on the trail to Hangman’s Gulch. “That trail is well traveled, and you can take the bed of the stream then, following down it for miles. This will destroy any trail, for I will drag back a bush over the trail of the horses to the stream, leaving a rope to it as though a horse had been hitched to it and had broke away.” “You are as ingenious as Buffalo Bill, sis.” “When we are working for a life our brains are on the alert, brother. Now you get the provisions, blankets, ammunition, and weapons packed up, for I will bring them to you with the pack-saddle at once, and I will see to the horses going to the edge of the timber. You will have to carry the pack-saddle that far yourself, but the other horse will be all saddled and bridled ready for you.” “I will not mind it, Ruth; but I want the best animals you have.” “You shall have them.” “And you know that I have no money.” “Indeed?” “It is so.” “I heard that you had been allowed to keep what you had on you of value when taken.” “It is not so, for I was robbed of everything,” said the outlaw with ready lie, for he had then upon him some gold, paper money, and valuables to the amount of ten thousand dollars. “Well, brother, I am not sorry, for that which you had had been gained dishonorably and would have brought you bad luck. I will give you ten thousand dollars in bills, which you can carry easily, and when I know in the future that you have reformed, that you have atoned for the past all that lies within your power, then will I share with you the fortune that I possess.” “You are very kind to me, Ruth; but I believe if I had more money now I could invest it so well that you would not have to give me a cent.” “I cannot give you more now, brother; but should you need it, you know where I told you to write to me, and I will readily help you. But have you decided where you will go?” “Yes, I shall go to South America somewhere and invest my money there.” “Well, may success attend you, brother, wherever you go. But now I have to ask a favor of you.” “Granted.” “Here is our mother’s prayer-book and in it is a lock of her hair. Will you clasp this sacred book in your hand, grasp mine with the other, and solemnly vow to me your pledge of reformation of your life and atonement for your past sins as far as is within your power to do so?” A cloud swept over the face of the outlaw, but he answered: “I will.”