Chapter I: Front Matter

The Golden Woman

A Story of the Montana Hills

By RIDGWELL CULLUM

AUTHOR OF "The Way of the Strong," "The Law Breakers," "The Trail of the Axe," Etc.

With Frontispiece in Colors

A. L. BURT COMPANY

Publishers New York

Published by Arrangement with GEORGE W. JACOBS & COMPANY

Copyright, 1913, by GEORGE W. JACOBS & COMPANY Published February, 1916

_All rights reserved_ Printed in U. S. A.

Contents

I. AUNT MERCY 9
II. OVER THE TELEPHONE 20
III. THE PARIAH 26
IV. TWO MEN OF THE WILDERNESS 39
V. THE STEEPS OF LIFE 54
VI. OUT OF THE STORM 73
VII. A SIMPLE MANHOOD 85
VIII. THE SECRET OF THE HILL 96
IX. GATHERING FOR THE FEAST 106
X. SOLVING THE RIDDLE 110
XI. THE SHADOW OF THE PAST 121
XII. THE GOLDEN WOMAN 133
XIII. THE CALL OF YOUTH 149
XIV. A WHIRLWIND VISIT 158
XV. THE CLAIMS OF DUTY 165
XVI. GOLD AND ALLOY 177
XVII. TWO POINTS OF VIEW 187
XVIII. WHEN LIFE HOLDS NO SHADOWS 204
XIX. A STUDY IN MISCHIEF 217
XX. THE ABILITIES OF MRS. RANSFORD 229
XXI. THE MEETING ON THE TRAIL 240
XXII. A MAN'S SUPPORT 246
XXIII. THE BRIDGING OF YEARS 258
XXIV. BEASLEY PLAYS THE GAME 273
XXV. BUCK LAUGHS AT FATE 286
XXVI. IRONY 301
XXVII. THE WEB OF FATE 313
XXVIII. A BLACK NIGHT 325
XXIX. BEASLEY IN HIS ELEMENT 334
XXX. THE MOVING FINGER 356
XXXI. THE JOY OF BEASLEY 364
XXXII. STRONGER THAN DEATH 374
XXXIII. THE TEMPEST BREAKS 389
XXXIV. THE EYES OF THE HILLS 402
XXXV. FROM OUT OF THE ABYSS 407
XXXVI. THE CATACLYSM 420
XXXVII. ALONE-- 427
XXXVIII. --IN THE WILDERNESS 432
XXXIX. LOVE'S VICTORY 439

The Golden Woman