“I am but the sister of the outlaw Silk Lasso Sam, remember.”
“Granted.”
“This does not deter you from wishing to keep up a friendship with me?”
“Not in the slightest, for I abhor the old Biblical law of visiting upon the children the sins of the fathers, only applying it in your case to a sister’s suffering for a brother’s crimes.”
“You are generous, you are just,” and Ruth held out her hand, which the colonel held while she continued:
“See if you wish my friendship when you hear of me again. If you do, then Miss Carr can tell you of me, for she has promised to be my friend and correspond with me. Now can I go and spend an hour with that unfortunate brother of mine, over whom the shadow of the gallows hangs like a nightmare?”
“Yes, I will escort you to the cabin.”
When the day came around for the departure of the coach, Major Lester and his wife felt the deepest regret at having to give up their lovely guest.
They had become deeply attached to her, and yet they could not urge her to remain longer, for they wished her to be far away when the day of execution came which would end the guilty career of Silk Lasso Sam and the lives of his men, sentenced to die at the same time.
Both the major and his wife had observed the deep interest felt by the colonel in their guest, and had spoken of it to each other.