Did you ever see this man before ?" asked Aiken, huskily and low.

"Is he the one--who came in the house that day--struck you down--and dragged mama-- ?" Aiken's voice failed.
A lightning flash seemed to clear Duane's blurred sight.

He saw a pale, sad face and violet eyes fixed in gloom and horror upon his.

No terrible moment in Duane's life ever equaled this one of silence--of suspense.
"It's ain't him!" cried the child.
Then Sibert was flinging the noose off Duane's neck and unwinding the bonds round his arms.

The spellbound crowd awoke to hoarse exclamations.
"See there, my locoed gents, how easy you'd hang the wrong man," burst out the cowboy, as he made the rope-end hiss.