"You did," he said; "you risked having your good name dragged in the gutter, for the sake of that worthless scamp." "I risked more than that," she returned in a lower tone. "More than that?" He shot a keen, questioning glance at her from under his dark, heavy brows. "Yes--I risked--and have I lost?--_your faith_?" He paused a moment before he answered: "Barbara, when a man loves as I do, he loves to the end of life--and after!" A light kindled in her steadfast, questioning eyes. "Then I have not lost your love, Rick?" "I love you always." "But--your faith?" she urged. "One is worthless to me without the other." "Do you say that my love is worthless, Barbara?" "If it is given without your trust, it is the setting without the jewel. _Trust_ me, Rick--or, _leave me_!" "I trust you, my love," he replied, catching her hands and holding them fast and close in his strong clasp. "Who could look in those eyes of yours and doubt that you're true and pure as truth itself? But, my darling, you've been foolish--with a woman's noble folly! Rash and reckless--with an angel's courage! You have ventured too much--in such a cause. These matters are not for women. Our Vigilante justice may be rough and ready, but it fits the time and place. Anyhow, we keep the neighbourhood so that the worst class of characters give it a wide berth. You should not have crossed its path, my Barbara. It was not safe for you; and for all that you have hazarded, he is not safe; they'll get him yet." "No, they will not; you will not betray him?" "No. To betray him would be betraying you! Not for his sake, but for yours, I'll hold my tongue. But what will he do? He cannot stay here." "He need not. He can have my brother's horse, my brother's overcoat and hat. He can take the trail up the gully under cover of the night, or with the first streak of dawn." "But your brother? Tom Thorne's a pretty hard citizen; what will he say?" "I don't know. And, Rick, I don't care! I've taken this on myself, and I'll see it through. I know Tom may be hard--and Hatty, too. The worst they can do is to turn me out of the house. And if they do----" "You'll come to _mine_! Be mistress of all I have--queen of my home--my _wife_!" * * * * * As the first pale pearly streak of dawn was stealing over the snow-capped peaks of the Sierras, Oliver Desmond bowed his head--as he had never bent it to mortal man--before the woman who had risked so much for his safety, and raised her hand to his lips, as if it were the hand of a shrined saint. And Colonel Jeff stood by, grim and silent. For good or ill, Rick Jeffreys was thorough. He had promised, and he would keep his word. [Illustration: "HE RAISED HER HAND TO HIS LIPS."] "You are the best and bravest of women," Desmond said. "Forget that I have ever crossed your path. I shall cross it no more. But I shall never forget."