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 "Going to kill me?" he asked incredulously, taking the now trembling girl into his arms. "Why, I know no one here except these people in this house. Who would kill me?"

"John Marley, the man we met today.—He and my brother have gotten together a group of their friends and they're perhaps on their way now. God knows what they'd do to you. You must hide.—I must hide you."

"Why hide? They can't kill me without cause."

"You love me. That's cause enough for them," she explained.

"My Little Girl, how sorry I am for you. What trouble I've brought to you," said he.

"Sh-h-h-h" she silenced him with a finger to his lips. "You've brought me yourself—the best man, and the only man, in the world for me. What do I care more?"

"You're a jewel—and I adore you for saying that, Heart O' Mine, but I must not allow it," he argued.

"Don't stand there.—Come on—they'll be here any minute. Thay shan't kill you unless they kill me first." She led the way back to the house, made Bennet lift her then mount behind her. Gently and quietly she turned the horse's head toward the road again and home. Her nerves were all atingle with excitement. Intently she scanned the darkness ahead of her and listened for sounds of any horses' feet. Once she thought she detected sounds and pulled up on the bridle. Knowing that the horse would also detect the sounds and indicate the fact by a listening attitude of its ears she studied these. They were