"And you said you cared for me!" she repeated helplessly, wringing her
hands in her despair. "But at the first chance you fail me."
"Can't you see it isn't a personal matter? I've got nothing against
him--nothing to speak of. I'd give him to you, if I could. But it's not my
say-so. The thing is out of my hands."
"You could save him, if you set yourself to."
"Sure, I could--if I would pay the price. But I won't pay."
"That's it. You would have to give Rosario something--make some
concession," she said eagerly.
"And I'm not willing to pay the price," he told her. "His life's forfeit.
Hasn't he been hunting us for a week?"
"Let me pay it," she cried. "I have money in my own right--seven thousand
dollars. I'll give it all to save him."
He shook his head. "No use. We've turned down a big offer from West. Your
seven thousand isn't a drop in the bucket."
She beat her hands together wildly. "There must be some way to save him."
The outlaw was looking at her with narrowed eyes. He saw a way, and was
working it out in his mind. "You're willing to pay, are you?" he asked.
"Yes--yes! All I have."
He put his arms akimbo on the corral fence, and looked long at her.
"Suppose the price can't be paid in money, Miss Lee."
"What do you mean?"
"Money isn't the only thing in this world. There are lots of things it
won't buy that other things will," he said slowly.
She groped for his meaning, her wide eyes fixed on his, and still did not
find it. "Be plainer, please. What can I do to save him?"
"You might marry me."
"Never!"
"Just as you say. You were looking for a way, and I suggested one. Anyhow,
you're mine."
"I won't do it!"
"You wanted me to pay the price; but you don't want to pay yourself."
"I couldn't do it. It would be horrible!" But she knew she could and
must.
"Why couldn't you? I'm ready to cut loose from this way of living. When I
pull off this one big thing, I'll quit. We'll go somewhere and begin life
again. You said I could. Well, I will. You'll help me to keep straight. It
won't be only his life you are saving. It will be mine, too."