The young man swallowed a lump in his throat. "I wish I could. But don't you see I can't? I'm not Jack Roberts, the man who ... who cares for you. I'm an officer of the State sent out to bring in this man wanted for a crime. I've _got_ to take him in." "But he saved my life," she said gently, puzzled at his queer point of view. "He stayed with me when he could easily have escaped. You wouldn't ... take advantage of that, Jack?" "I'll give every dollar I've got in the world to clear him, 'Mona. I'll fight for him to a finish. But I've got to take him to town an' put him in jail. If I don't I can't ever hold up my head again," he told her desperately. "I thought you loved me, Jack," she murmured, through gathering tears. "What kind of a man would I be for you to marry if I threw down on what was right just because you asked me to an' I wanted to do it?" he demanded. "He's got his neck bowed, 'Mona. I told him how we felt, but he wouldn't believe me. I reckon he knows now," her father said. "You're not goin' to throw me over because I've got to do what I think right, 'Mona?" asked Jack miserably. "I ... I'm not throwing you over. It's you. You're throwing _me_ over. Don't you see that we've _got_ to help Mr. Dinsmore because he did so much for me?" "Certainly I see that. I'll resign from the Rangers, and then we'll all pull together for him, 'Mona." "After you've pulled on the rope that hangs him," added Clint angrily. "Nothin' to that, 'Mona. He's for us or he's against us. Let him say which right now." The girl nodded, white to the lips. "Do you mean that you'll give me up unless I let Dinsmore escape before we reach town?" asked the young man. "I ... I've got to save him as he did me. If you won't help, it's because you don't love me enough," she faltered. "I can't," the boy cried. "'Nough said," cut in Wadley. "You've got yore answer, 'Mona, an' he's got his." Jack stiffened in the saddle. His hard eyes bored straight into those of his sweetheart. "Have I?" he asked of her. The girl nodded and turned her head away with a weak, little gesture of despair. Her heart was bleeding woe. The Ranger wheeled on his horse and galloped back to his place beside Dinsmore. CHAPTER XLIII TEX RESIGNS Jack Roberts, spurs jingling, walked into the office of his chief. Ellison looked up, leaned back in his chair, and tugged at his goatee. "Well, Tex, you sure were thorough. Four men in the Dinsmore outfit, an' inside o' two days three of 'em dead an' the fourth a prisoner. You hit quite a gait, son." "I've come to resign," announced the younger man. "Well, I kinda thought you'd be resignin' about now," said the Captain with a smile. "Weddin' bells liable to ring right soon, I reckon." "Not mine," replied Roberts. Somehow, in the way he said it, the older man knew that the subject had been closed. "Goin' to take that job Clint offered you?" "No." Jack snapped out the negative curtly, explosively. Another topic closed.