He meditated for a time.  “Then to-day it shall be.  I’ll shirk the fight, I’ll sacrifice what shreds of duty have clung to me, because the fever for you is in my bones, and it seems to me I’d do murder for it.  That’s the kind of a man I am, and I have no pride in myself because of it.  But I’ve always been that way We’ll ride to the Sign of the Sled.  It’s a romantic little road-house ten miles from here, perched high above the Snake River trail.  We’ll take dinner there together.”

“But the papers?”

“I’ll have them with me.  We’ll start in an hour.”

“In an hour,” she echoed, lifelessly, and left him.

He chuckled grimly and seized the telephone.  “Central—­call the Sled road-house—­seven rings on the Snake River branch.  Hello!  That you, Shortz?  This is Struve.  Anybody at the house?  Good.  Turn them away if they come and say that you’re closed.  None of your business.  I’ll be out about dark, so have dinner for two.  Spread yourself and keep the place clear.  Good-bye.”

Strengthened by Glenister’s note, Helen went straight to the other woman and this time was not kept waiting nor greeted with sneers, but found Cherry cloaked in a shy dignity, which she clasped tightly about herself.  Under her visitor’s incoherence she lost her diffidence, however, and, when Helen had finished, remarked, with decision:  “Don’t go with him.  He’s a bad man.”

“But I must. The blood of those men will be on me if I don’t stop this tragedy.  If those papers tell the tale I think they do, I can call off my uncle and make McNamara give back the mines.  You said Struve told you the whole scheme.  Did you see the proof?”

“No, I have only his word, but he spoke of those documents repeatedly, saying they contained his instructions to tie up the mines in order to give a foothold for the lawsuits.  He bragged that the rest of the gang were in his power and that he could land them in the penitentiary for conspiracy.  That’s all.”

“It’s the only chance,” said Helen.  “They are sending soldiers to the Midas to lie in ambush, and you must warn the Vigilantes.”  Cherry paled at this and ejaculated: 

“Good Lord!  Roy said he’d lead an attack to-night.”  The two stared at each other.

“If I succeed with Struve I can stop it all—­all of this injustice and crime—­everything.”

“Do you realize what you’re risking?” Cherry demanded.  “That man is an animal.  You’ll have to kill him to save yourself, and he’ll never give up those proofs.”

“Yes, he will,” said Helen, fiercely, “and I defy him to harm me.  The Sign of the Sled is a public roadhouse with a landlord, a telephone, and other guests.  Will you warn Mr. Glenister about the troops?”

“I will, and bless you for a brave girl.  Wait a moment.”  Cherry took from the dresser her tiny revolver.  “Don’t hesitate to use this.  I want you to know also that I’m sorry for what I said yesterday.”