"I hardly think we are exactly done yet, Mr. Sheriff," he said
sarcastically. "I 'm not very much worried regarding your suddenly
expressed sympathy for this fellow, or your desire to get him off
unscratched; but I feel compelled to insist upon receiving all the law
allows me in this game we 're playing. There 's another warrant in
your pocket for Winston."
"By thunder, yes; I 'd clear forgot it," fumbling at his papers.
"Well, I had n't; matter of some personal importance to me," the voice
taking on a lazy, insolent drawl. "Of course, the fellow is under
arrest all right, but that murder business is only part of it--I want
my wife."
Winston started forward, crouching as though he would spring directly
at the other's throat.
"Your wife?" he exclaimed madly, his voice choking. "Your wife? You
've sworn out a warrant for me on account of your wife?"
"Something of that nature, I believe," gazing at him insolently.
"Abduction I think the lawyers call it, and I notice you 've got the
lady hidden away back yonder now." He pointed across the other's
shoulder. "Caught with the goods. Oh, you 're a fine preacher of
morals, but I 've got you dead to rights this time."
Winston stood as though carven from stone, his face deathly white, his
lips compressed, his gray eyes burning, never wavering from that
mocking face. With all his strength of will he battled back the first
mad impulse to throttle the man, to crush him into shapeless pulp. For
one awful moment his mind became a chaos, his blood throbbing fire. To
kill would be joy, a relief inexpressible. Farnham realized the
impulse, and drew back, not shrinking away, but bracing for the
contest. But the engineer gripped himself in time.
"Hayes," he ejaculated hoarsely, "let the lady decide this. If she
says no, then, by God, I 'll fight you all single-handed before he ever
puts touch upon her!"
Old Bill Hicks was beside him in a single stride, his face blazing.
"I 'm damned if yer will!" he growled madly. "I 'm in on this deal,
law er no law. The whole blame thing is a bluff, an' I 'll not stan'
fer it no longer. Yer step back thar, Sam Hayes, er else Gulpin County
will be lookin' 'round fer another sheriff. I 've got plumb ter the
limit o' patience in this game."
Winston grasped the old man's uplifted arm, whirling him sharply around.
"No," he exclaimed almost wearily, "it 's not to be a fight yet;
let--let her decide between us."
She was already coming, walking alone directly across the open space
toward them. The eyes of the bewildered men were upon her, marking the
white face, rendered more noticeable by its frame of dark, uncovered
hair, the firm, womanly chin, the tightly compressed lips, the
resolute, unwavering eyes. She walked firmly, confidently forward, her
head proudly uplifted, a stately dignity about her bearing which could
not be ignored. If she perceived either Winston or Farnham in that
group she gave no sign, never halting until she stood directly before
Sam Hayes. Involuntarily, unconscious of the act, the sheriff pulled
off his hat, and stood twirling it in his hands.