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 cheat her of witnessing the visitation of retribution upon the head of the slayer. Caution was discarded.

At Hilma's announcement Zang started. His eyes questioned hers fruitlessly. Taking the girl by the arm, he led her a little away, out of earshot of the Killer.

"You 're sure not aimin' to walk right into Original Bill's arms," he urged tensely. "Not prance right up 'longside an indictment for assault?"

"That man won't dare make a move if I come into town bringing the Killer," Hilma countered. "He 'd be mobbed. Anyway, he does n't fight women in the open—where others can see him. What 's more"

"But, girl"

"What 's more, you know Uncle Alf. If he should be riding in alone with the Killer and thought he heard a voice telling him to let the man go, why, he 'd let him go and then prove from the Bible he did right. No, Zang, I 'm not taking any chances. Anyway, they 'll want me for a witness, won't they?"

The girl looked up to his eyes and saw a conflict there. A new tenderness, sensed once before that night, stirred her heart.