"Oh," she said; "what has happened to you?"
"Nothin'," he answered, with a grave smile. "That is, nothin'--yet.
Except that I've found out what a fool I've been. But I've found it
out too late."
"No," she said, reaching the quick conclusion that he meant it was too
late for him to complete his reformation; "it is never too late."
"I think I know what you mean," he answered. "But you've got it wrong.
It's somethin' else. I've got to get out of here--got to hit the
breeze out of the country. The sheriff is after me."
She took a step backward. "What for?" she asked breathlessly.
"For killin' Al Sharp."
"Al Sharp!" she exclaimed, staring at him in amazement. "Why, you told
me that an Indian named Telza killed him!"
"That's what Sharp told me. The Taggarts claim I done it. They've
swore out a warrant. I got wind of it an' I'm gettin' out. There's no
use tryin' to fight the law in a case like this."
"But you didn't kill him!" she cried, stiffening defiantly. "You said
you didn't, and I know you wouldn't lie. They can't prove that you did
it!"
He laughed. "You're the only one that would believe me. Do you reckon
I could prove that I didn't do it? There's two against one. The
evidence is against me. The Taggarts found me in the clearing with
Sharp. I had the knife.
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