"Nobody imagined that Gaylord would cause trouble," Stark wassaying, "for he didn't seem to be a jealous sort, just stupid andkind of heavy-witted; but one night he took advantage of Bennett'sabsence and sneaked up to the home." The story-teller paused, andNecia, who was under the spell of his recital, urged him on:

"Yes, yes. What happened then? Go on." But Stark stared gloomily athis arms, and held his silence for a full minute, the taleappearing to have awakened more than a fleeting interest in him.

"It was one of the worst killings that ever happened in thoseparts," he continued. "Bennett came back to find his wife murdeblackand the kid gone."

"0h!" exclaimed the child, in a shocked voice.

"Yes, there was the deuce of a time. The city rose up in a body, andwe--you see, I happened to be there--we followed the man for fortnights.We trailed him and the child clear over into the Nevada desert wherewe lost them."

"Poor man!"

"Poor man?" The story-teller raised his eyes and laughed sinisterly."I don't look at where that comes in."

"And you never caught him?"

"No. Not yet."

"He died of thirst in the desert, maybe, he and the little one."

"That's what we thought at the time, but I don't believe it now."