friends who remained in town, or Dex and Slapjack out in the hills.  With daylight those two would return and walk unheeding into the trap, while if he bore the word to them first, then the Vigilantes would be jailed before dawn.  As he drew near Cherry Malotte’s house he saw a light through the drawn curtains.  A heavy raindrop plashed upon his face, another followed, and then he heard the patter of falling water increasing swiftly.  Before he could gain the door the storm had broken.  It swept up the street with tropical violence, while a breath sighed out of the night, lifting the litter from underfoot and pelting him with flying particles.  Over the roofs the wind rushed with the rising moan of a hurricane while the night grew suddenly noisy ahead of the tempest.

He entered the door without knocking, to find the girl removing her coat.  Her face gladdened at sight of him, but he checked her with quick and cautious words, his speech almost drowned by the roar outside.

“Are you alone?” She nodded, and he slipped the bolt behind him, saying: 

“The marshals are after me.  We just had a ‘run in’ at the Northern, and I’m on the go.  No—­nothing serious yet, but they want the Vigilantes, and I must get them word.  Will you help me?” He rapidly recounted the row of the last ten minutes while she nodded her quick understanding.

“You’re safe here for a little while,” she told him, “for the storm will check them.  If they should come, there’s a back door leading out from the kitchen and a side entrance yonder.  In my room you’ll find a French window.  They can’t corner you very well.”

“Slapjack and Dex are out at the shaft house—­you know—­that quartz claim on the mountain above the Midas.”  He hesitated.  “Will you lend me your saddle-horse?  It’s a black night and I may kill him.”

“What about these men in town?”

“I’ll warn them first, then hit for the hills.”

She shook her head.  “You can’t do it.  You can’t get out there before daylight if you wait to rouse these people, and McNamara has probably telephoned the mines to send a party up to the quartz claim after Dex.  He knows where the old man is as well as you do, and they’ll raid him before dawn.”

“I’m afraid so, but it’s all I can offer.  Will you give me the horse?”

“No!  He’s only a pony, and you’d founder him in the tundra.  The mud is knee-deep.  I’ll go myself.”

“Good Heavens, girl, in such a night!  Why, it’s worth your life!  Listen to it!  The creeks will be up and you’ll have to swim.  No, I can’t let you.”

“He’s a good little horse, and he’ll take me through.”  Then, coming close, she continued:  “Oh, boy!  Can’t you see that I want to help?  Can’t you see that I—­I’d die for you if it would do any good?” He gazed gravely into her wide blue eyes and said, awkwardly:  “Yes, I know.  I’m sorry things are—­as they are—­but you wouldn’t have me lie to you, little woman?”