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BOB FINDS HIMSELF CAUGHT IN THE TRAP HE HIMSELF HAD BAITED
cried out sharply. "An' y'u, Uncle Luke, thar — whar y'u go-in'?"
A stranger, dressed in the menace of official blue uniform, answered her.
"We're after the Tyler gang of whisky distillers," he explained succinctly. "Your uncle is an unwilling assistant in his capacity of sheriff. He insisted on coming here before we made the raid."
Luke Hurf leaned out of his saddle, grasping the girl's thin shoulder roughly.
"Y'u-all knows what this hyar business '11 lead to," he said meaningly. "Call th' folks together, so's t' be ready, gal."
Dazed, she saw the group ride away in the direction of the whisky-still. Hot shame fired her.
"Hit war Bill done hit— /V pay\" she thought fiercely. "Yes, I'll git th' folks together, but hit '11 "be t' help th' Tylers, not t' shoot 'em!"
The gathering of the "folks" was just in time. As, Betty at their head, they rode into the clearing where the whisky-still had stood, they found all traces of it gone ; but a sinister group gathered where it once stood. Rope about his neck, Bob Tyler faced them all — angry kinsmen, feudal enemies
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and officers of that cruel "city" law that does not allow mountain folks to live and die and manage their affairs in their own way. Overhearing Bill's treacherous offer to reveal the still to the revenue officers, he had ridden fast and far from the city to destroy all evidences of lawbreaking. And now he found himself caught in the trap he had baited himself for the sake of his mountain sweetheart.
With a wild cry, the girl was down from her horse and on his breast, frenzied arms tugging at the rope.
' ' No, no ! " she panted, ' ' not that — 0 Gawd, ha' mercy, not that! Bob, Bob, say y'u love me! Say y'u forgive me! Oh, what '11 I do?"
Her hunted glance met that of Bill, sitting coolly in his saddle. He was smiling down at her boldly, smug with the protection of the law of kin. But it was another law that finally interfered. The stranger in the blue uniform motioned his men to lead Bob away.
"Lock him up for trial," he ordered curtly.
"But he done confessed he killed his pappy, ' ' said a voice in the crowd, doubtfully. Betty wrung her hands. Every man has a right to a fair
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