“If you feel that I can serve you, Mr. Arden, send for me. I will send you some books to read, and if there is anything we can prepare for you to eat we will gladly do so.” With this Clarice Carr left the cabin of the doomed outlaw. She had done her duty, and, unless he sent for her, she would not care to see him again. Should he send for her to cheer him in the last awful moment, she would go without the slightest hesitation. Returning to her home, she told Major Lester and his wife just what had occurred, and they, too, felt that she had done only what was right. And yet, the next evening the sentinel on duty at the cabin saw Miss Carr approaching. He had had orders to admit her at her will, and, as she drew near, her face closely veiled, she said, in a low tone: “You have orders to admit Miss Carr, have you not, sentinel?” “Yes, miss. Pass on!” and the sentinel resumed his steady pace to and fro, as soon as he had taken the outer beat, some thirty paces away from the cabin. “Ah! Miss Carr, you have come again to see me in my loneliness,” said the prisoner, rising as the visitor entered. The veil was thrown back, and, instead of Clarice Carr, it was Nina de Sutro who stood before him. “Nina! is it you?” “Sh---- It is not for you to call me by that name where it might be heard. I am Miss De Sutro to you, as to others.” “Why this disguise in coming to see me?” “Am I disguised?” “You surely wear the dress and hat of Miss Carr, and a veil?” “True, about the hat, and being veiled, for I borrowed the hat to trim one like it; the veil is mine, for I did not care to have my face seen, and the dress is Mrs. De Sutro’s and is a match for one belonging to Clarice.” “But why?” “Well, I do not intend to compromise myself, and I could find no excuse to ask to come and see you, so I decided upon strategy.” “You were anxious to see me, then?” “Nothing of the kind.” “Why did you come, then?” “Because I had to do so.” “Ah! a woman’s reason.” “Yes, _because_.” “And you impersonated Miss Carr?” “I did, for she has gone off with a party for a drive to the settlement, and you know that she got permission from Colonel Dunwoody to see you, as _your sister_ asked it.” “You speak as though you did not believe it was my sister?” “Yes, she said so.” “And you doubt her?” “Oh, no.” “What then?” “I would believe anything she told me, for I never saw a truer, lovelier face, so unlike your own.” “Mine is stamped indelibly with crime.” “I am glad that you admit as much. But I went to see your sister.” “She refused to see any one.” “Very true, but I am no blunderer, and I went about it in a way that won.” “I hope you will not blunder when it comes to my rescue.” “That is why I have come to see you.” “Well?” “I have come to tell you that I do not intend to rescue you, or even make the attempt,” was the cool reply of the woman. The man started visibly at her words. He gazed at her with a look which seemed to pierce to her very soul.