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She gave it to him straight from the shoulder, her eyes holding

his steadily.

"Struve?" he gasped, taken completely aback.

"No, not Struve. The man who stood beside Lieutenant Fraser, the

one you threatened to kill because he backed the law."

"I guess you don't know all the facts, Miss Kinney." He came

close and met her gaze while he spoke in a low voice. "There

ain't many know what I know. Mebbe there ain't any beside you

now. But I know you're Jim Kinney's sister."

"You are welcome to the knowledge. It is no secret. Lieutenant

Fraser knows it. So does his friend. I'm not trying to hide it.

What of it?"

Her quiet scorn drew the blood to his face.

"That's all right. If you do want to keep it quiet I'm with you.

But there's something more. Your brother escaped from Yuma with

this fellow Struve. Word came over the wire an hour or two ago

that Struve had been captured and that it was certain he had

killed his pal, your brother. That's why I mean to see him hanged

before mo'ning."