“May I ask,” began Silk Lasso Sam with a most malignant look upon his face, “if you have your certificate of marriage?” “My marriage-certificate?” she gasped. “Yes.” “Is it necessary?” “Of course, for all well-regulated families have one.” “Where is mine?” “That is what I asked you.” “You never gave me one.” “It was not for me to give it to you.” “Who then should?” “The minister who performed the service should have given it to you.” “Why did he not, for I was young and thoughtless?” “I will tell you why he did not do so.” “Why?” “Because he had no right to do so, for _he was no minister_.” “Heaven have mercy upon me!” “Not even Heaven will be merciful to one who cannot show her certificate of marriage.” “You lie, Arden, and you know that you do, for I am your wife, and I will yet get that certificate to prove it.” “You can never get what cannot be secured. That man was no preacher; he was under my pay, and I paid him for his work. That is all there is to it, and so, when I make known my story about you, as I face an attentive and appreciative audience, standing upon the gallows as I will, it will be my pleasure to state that Nina de Sutro has a right to her name, as my death will not even leave her _my widow_. “Do you see now, my beautiful Nina, just how you will stand in the eyes of these honorable gentlemen, for I shall add that you knew the fact from the very first--see?” That she did _see_ was proven by the moan that escaped her lips as she sank in a heap at the feet of the man who had dealt her such a cruel blow. There was nothing for the outlaw to lose, everything for him to gain. The time was drawing near when he must die. His sister had promised to save him, yet there might be a miscarriage of her plot. In his despairing case it would not do to trust to one plan alone. Nina de Sutro, disappointed at the discovery she had made regarding the colonel’s love for Ruth, had grown reckless, almost desperate, and was willing that all should be known, rather than save the outlaw from death. When, however, he told her what he would tell to dishonor her, she feared that she was forever lost, and so sank in a swoon at his feet. He stood gazing upon her with intense delight in his expression, the cause of which was revealed by his muttered words: “That will fetch her to terms.” He had told a falsehood, for the marriage was a legal one, greatly to the man’s regret afterward, and only his game of bluff had caused Nina, in her fear, to forget that the man was a priest, who performed the ceremony, and that the marriage was registered upon the books of the parish church where it was celebrated. Without one effort to help her, Silk Lasso Sam stood gazing upon the form lying at his feet. “She’ll come round soon,” he muttered. And he was right. In a short while there was a convulsive twitching of the muscles, then color rushed back into the face and the eyes opened.