“THE DOOMED OUTLAW.” Over and over again did Ruth Leigh read this letter from her doomed brother. He had struck the right chord in appealing to her as he did, for he admitted his guilt, and, repenting, wished to live only for atonement for the past. Bonnie Belle was deeply impressed by the letter. Her brother had been her idol from her earliest girlhood, and she had condoned his sins, and hoped for his reformation in the end. Had the reformation come at last? It seemed so to her, and hence she decided to yield to this last appeal, to give him one more chance. Then she called to the courier, and said: “Let me give you this for your trouble, so report that your services are paid for, please.” With this she placed in his hand a bill, which the miner saw had an L upon it. “Thank you kindly, miss. But the answer?” “Is for you to report that I simply said: “‘I will.’” “Yes, miss, I will not forgit it.” With this the courier turned away, mounted his horse, and started back upon the trail, while Bonnie Belle said to the driver: “You are very kind to delay so long for me, and I thank you, Sandy.” “Never mind the delay, Bonnie Belle, for I can make it up. Are you ready to go on now?” “Yes.” “Then jump aboard, Deadshot Dean, and I’ll send the critters ahead lively.” The miner obeyed, and the coach rolled rapidly on its way. For some time neither the driver nor the girl spoke. He would not ask her the nature of the letter she had received, unless she chose to reveal it; yet he could guess that it came from her outlaw brother. On her part, she was wondering how she could confide her secret to Carrol Dean. After a while she decided that she could not tell him all, for it would be his duty to thwart her in her humane intention. So she said: “Carrol Dean, you have been as a dear, good brother to me, and I hope that I may ever so regard you; but I fear that you will not approve of what I have decided to do.” “What is it, Bonnie Belle?” “I have a letter from my brother.” “I guessed as much.” “It is written in cipher, and was sent to me through some one in the fort who is friendly toward him.” “I hardly believe that possible, so bitter was the feeling toward him. He must be an ally of his in some way.” “That may be. But the appeal from him is a strong one, and I have decided to see him.” “Do you mean it, Ruth?” asked the surprised miner. “Yes.” “You are wrong in doing so, very.” “It may be that I am, but in this case I feel that I must see him. He is an outlaw, it is true. He has committed many crimes as Silk Lasso Sam, the road-agent chief, and yet now he is down, ironed hands and feet, a prisoner at the mercy of his foes. He is under sentence of death, and will soon be led upon the gallows, to die at the end of a rope.