TE. Yes.

TRAVERS. [_Pleading._] In self-defence--they were ten--ten to one.

KATE. You are bleeding!

TRAVERS. [_Covers hand._] The window cut me--give me a drink--I'm
parching. [_She gets water in a dipper from bucket on bench._ TRAVERS
_drinks with the tin rattling on his teeth. Noise of a galloping horse
passes. He drops the dipper._] I don't think they saw me come in here.

KATE. Why did you come?

TRAVERS. Where else? I ran--turned every corner till I lost them. If I
can hide or get a horse!

KATE. [_Doubting him._] Why did they try to arrest you?

TRAVERS. I--I don't know, Kate--some mistake.

KATE. They said the express robbery.

TRAVERS. It isn't so--

KATE. [_Goes to table and leans on it with her back to_ TRAVERS.] Ah!

TRAVERS. Kate, [_Pause._] Kate, [_Pause._] you must believe me! Why
should I be here [_Pause._] in this little town--

KATE. Why did you shoot?

TRAVERS. I had to--they would have killed me--it is all a
mistake--Kate, _Kate_--

KATE. What shall we do?

TRAVERS. If I had a horse--

KATE. But why?

TRAVERS. Listen!

_There is again the sound of approaching hoofs._

KATE. Some one is coming--[_He turns at bay._] No--I couldn't stand
it--go in here--[_Opens closet._] Quick!

TRAVERS. Yes! [_He enters the closet--she closes the door of the
closet and throws open the street door; goes to table._

JIM _rides into view and drops from his horse._

JIM. [_In door._] Hello?

KATE. [_Behind table._] Well?

JIM. [_After looking slowly about._] Where is he?

KATE. I--I--where is who?

JIM. [_In a matter of course way_] Travers.

KATE. Why, how should I know?

JIM. Then why don't you jes' say you don't know?

KATE. [_Behind chair._] Well, then, I don't know.

JIM. [_Shaking his head._] Too late now.

KATE. Too late?

JIM. Yes--if it'd been all right, you wouldn't a-tried to dodge me.

KATE. [_Near melodeon._] You may think as you choose.

JIM. [_Pause._] I'm awful sorry for you, Kate.

KATE. Oh, you needn't be.

JIM. [_On the "qui vive."_] But I want to see Mr. Travers.

KATE. [_In distress._] You--you annoy me very much. [_Sits left of
table._

JIM. [_In real tenderness._] Why, Kate--Katie--see here--I'm your
friend--they ain't anybody in the world feels as bad for you as I
do--but be reasonable--it's only a question of time. I s'pose every
man in Bowlin' Green that owns a gun or a bowie knife's collectin' up
there at the Court House--your own pa and Dave-