“My dear young lady, I will not deny you. I will grant your request,” said the general. “Colonel, write out an official order to Colonel Dunwoody, to permit this lady to see her brother at will, and to turn over the body of the man to her after his execution.” “I thank you, sir, most sincerely,” and the tears came into the beautiful eyes of the girl. The order was written, signed, and sealed, and both officers arose as Bonnie Belle took her leave, the general himself opening the door for her, while the orderly, in the corridor, escorted her to the carriage. “Here is my address, Bainbridge, so call on me this evening, and do not say to any one that you know me.” “You can rely on me fully, Bonnie Belle,” answered the orderly, as he closed the door. CHAPTER VII. THE DOOMED OUTLAW. In a cabin of stout logs, with floor and roof of the same solid material, to make escape impossible, narrow apertures in either end for windows, and a door of heavy timber, barred with iron, sat a man under sentence of death. Before his door, his beat being from corner to corner of the cabin, paced a sentinel on duty. The cabin stood apart from the regular guard-house, and was so situated that all approaching and leaving it could readily be seen from the soldiers’ barracks which it fronted. The prisoner was heavily ironed with manacles about his ankles, and they were chained to the floor, though he had length enough to walk to the door and to his cot. The man sat in an easy chair facing the door, which was partially open, giving him a glimpse of the plains and mountains beyond. The chair, a cot, table, and some books were all that there was in the room to add to his comfort. The face of the man, though pale, was not despairing, and upon it rested no look of anxiety, though but too well he knew that there was no help for him; that he was doomed to die upon the gallows. Dressed in border costume, clean-shaven, and neat in appearance, he looked almost contented with his lot. The prisoner was the outlaw chief, Silk Lasso Sam, he who held up the coach and killed the driver and a passenger, afterward playing his game so boldly as Austin Marvin, and being received into the fort with every hospitality, until he could kidnap, with the aid of his band, Miss Clarice Carr, to hold until she paid a large ransom for her release. There were others of his band in the fort as prisoners, but these were kept apart, as the outlaw chief had asked to be alone. He had faced his accusers at the trial without flinching, had not quailed under the gaze of those whom he had wronged, and had appeared really interested in the testimony given by Miss Carr as to what he had done after their being captured by the men of his band.