“Wait,” she breathed, and stole back of the counter to the case where pocketknives were kept.

Finding one, she ran to him and hacked at the rope till he was free.

He rose and stretched his cramped limbs.

“This way.”  Phyllis took him by the hand, and led him to the stairs.  Together they descended, after she had locked the door.  Another minute, and they stood in the kitchen, still hand in hand.

The girl released herself.  “You will find Slim’s horse tied to the fence of the corral.  When you reach it, ride for your life,” she said.

“Why have you saved me after you betrayed me?” he demanded.

“I save you because I did betray you.  I couldn’t have your blood on my head.  Now, go.”

“Not till I know why you betrayed me.”

“You can ask that.”  Her indignation gathered and broke.  “Because you are what you are.  Because I know what you told Jim Yeager this afternoon.  Why don’t you go?”

“What did I tell Yeager?  About the knife, you mean?”

“You tried to lay it on Phil to save yourself.”

“Did Yeager tell you that?”

“No, but I know it,” She pushed him toward the door.  “Go, while there is still a chance.”

“I’m not going—­not yet.  Not till you promise to ask Yeager what I said.”

A footstep sounded, and the door opened.  The intruder stopped, his hand still on the handle, aware that there were others in the room.

“Who is it?” Phyllis breathed, stricken almost dumb with terror.

“It’s Slim.  Hope I ain’t buttin’ in, Phyllie.”

Unconsciously he had given her the cue she needed.

“Well, you are.”  She laughed nervously, as might a lover caught unexpectedly.  “It’s—­it’s Phil,” she pretended to pretend.

“Oh, it’s Phil.”  Slim laughed in kindly derision, and declared before he went out:  “I expect you would spell his name B-r-i-double l.  Don’t forget to invite me to the wedding, Phyllie.  Meanwhile I’ll be mum as a clam till you say the word.”

With which he jingled away.  The door was scarce closed before the girl turned on Keller.

“There!  You see.  They may catch you any moment.”

“Will you ask Yeager?”

“Yes, if you’ll go.”

“All right.  I’ll go.”

Still he did not leave.  The magic of this slim girl had swept him from his feet.  In imagination he still felt the touch of her warm fingers, soft as a caress, the thrill of her hair as it had brushed his cheek when she had stooped over him.  The drag of sex was upon him and had set him trembling strangely.

“Why don’t you go?” she cried softly.

He snatched himself away.

But before he had reached the door he came back in two strides.  Startled and unnerved, she waited on him.  He caught both her hands in his, and opened them wide so that she was drawn toward him by the swing of the motion.  There for an instant he stood, looking down into her eyes by the faint light that sifted through the window upon her.