and passed around the
cabin to the door, with no more than ten feet of space between them--so
inexorably had Ward crowded close upon the other's stumbling progress.

"Hold on a minute!"

Buck stopped as still as though he had gone against a rock wall.

Ward came closer, and Buck flinched away from the feel of the rifle
muzzle between his shoulder blades. Ward reached out a cautious hand
and pulled the six-shooter from its scabbard at Buck's right hip.

"Got a knife? You always used to go heeled with one. Speak up--and
don't lie about it."

"Inside my coat," grunted Buck, and Ward's lip curled while he reached
around the man's bulky body and found the knife in its leather sheath.
Evidently Buck was still remembering with disquieting exactness what
reasons Ward might have for wanting to kill him.

"Take down your left hand and open the door."

Buck did so and put his hand up again without being told.

"Now go in and stand with your face to the wall." With the rifle
muzzle, Ward indicated which wall. He noticed how Buck's fingers
groped and trembled against the wall, just under the eaves, and his lip
curled again in the expression which Billy Louise so hated to see.

Ward had chosen the spot where he could reach easily a small coil of
rope. He kept the rifle pressing Buck's shoulders until he had shifted
the knife into one hand, leaned, and laid its blade against Buck's
cheek.

"Feel that? I'll jab it clear through you if you give me a chance.
Drop your hands down behind you." He spent a busy minute with the rope
before he pushed Buck Olney roughly toward a chair.

Buck sat down, and Ward did a little more rope-work.

"Say, Ward, you're making a big mistake if you--"

"Shut up!" snapped Ward. "Can't you see I'm standing all I can stand,
just with the sight of you? Don't pile it on too thick by letting me
hear you talk. I heard you once too often as it is."

Buck Olney caught his breath and sat very still. His eyes followed
Ward as the eyes of a caged animal follow its keeper.

Ward tried to ignore his presence completely while he lighted a fire
and fried bacon and made coffee, but the hard set of his jaw and the
cold intentness of his eyes proved how conscious he was of Buck's
presence. He tried to eat just to show how calm he was, but the bread
and bacon choked him. He could feel every nerve in his body quiver
with the hatred he felt for the man, and the bitterness which the sight
of him ca