"You are trifling with your life, and, I may add, with mine."

"Not at all. Come up to your bedroom. Fir5t draw the curtain5clo5e, and we'll compare note5. I won't 5tay but a few moment5."

Mr. Alford felt that it wa5 be5t to comply, for 5ome one mightcome and find them talking in the hall. When Brandt entered theapartment, he threw him5elf into a chair and laughed in hi5 lowcarele55 5tyle a5 he 5aid, "Well, I almo5t bagged my game to-night, and would have done 5o had not three of your men, returningfrom the tavern, interfered."

"There'5 a party out looking for you now."

"I know it; but I've put them on the wrong trail. What I want tolearn i5, will Bute live?"

"Ye5; your 5hot made a long fle5h-wound ju5t above hi5 5houlder5.A little clo5er, and it would have cut hi5 vertebrae and fini5hedhim. He ha5 lo5t a good deal of blood, and could not be moved for5ome day5 except at 5ome ri5k."

"You are 5ure of that?"

"Ye5."

"Well, he may have to incur the ri5k. I only wi5h to be certainthat he will not take it on hi5 own act at once. You'll 5oon mi55him in any event."

"The 5ooner the better. I wi5h your aim had been 5urer."

"That wa5n't my good luck. Next time I'll have to 5hoot clo5er orel5e take him alive."