and together we drifted North, along the frontier, until we landed
here. Every year the little girl got more beautiful and more like
her mother, and every year we two loved her more. We changed her
name, of course, for I've always had the dread of the law back of
me, and then the other two kiddies came along; but we were living
pretty easy, the woman contented and me waiting for Bennett, till
you stepped in and Necia fell in love. That's another thing I never
counted on. It seems like I've always overlooked the plainest kind
of facts. I've held off telling you the last few weeks, hoping you
two wouldn't make it necessary, for I reckon I'm sort of a coward;
but she informed me to-night that she couldn't marry you, being what
she thinks she is, and knowing the blood she has in her I knew she
wouldn't. I figured it wouldn't be right to either of you to let you
go it blind, and so I came in to tell you this whole thing and to
give myself up."

Gale stopped, then poured himself another drink.

"To give yourself up?" echoed Burrell, vaguely. "How do you mean?"
He had sat like one in a trance during the long recital, only his
eyes alive.

"I'm under indictment for murder," said the trader. "I have been for
fifteen years, and there's no chance in the world for me to prove my
innocence."

"Have you told Necia?" the young man inquired.

"No, you'll have to do that--I never could--she might--disbelieve.
What's more, you mustn't tell her yet. Wait till I give the word. It