ok as meek as a lamb but I guess ye're about as near a
devil as they make 'em."

"He didn't run away with me," Betty sharply replied. "I ran away with
him, that's the way it was, and you needn't get on your high horse, Jim
Goban. You, yourself, would be the first one to run away with a girl
if you could find one crazy enough to run with you."

"Shet up, ye fool," Jim shouted. "I didn't ask you to speak."

"I know you didn't," the girl calmly returned, "but that doesn't make
any difference. This is a free country, isn't it? We didn't ask you
to come here and make such a fuss, so you can go if you are not
satisfied with our company. We're quite happy where we are."

"But I'm not goin' without that cuss," and Jim looked savagely at the
old man. "You kin stay if ye want to with the guy who owns this cabin.
There'll be a nice little story fer the gossips before long, ha, ha."

At these words Jasper started, while his face went white and his hands
clenched together. He had listened in silence to Jim's tirade, and was
only waiting an opportunity to explain how the old man and the girl
happened to be at his place. But this pointed reference to him was
more than he could endure.

"What do you mean by that statement?" he asked, taking a quick step
forward. "Please explain yourself."

"There's nothin' to explain," and Jim gave a coarse laugh. "The
neighbours will do all the explainin' that is necessary."

"No, that's not the thing. You made an insinuation, and it's up to you
to explain before you leave. I have nothing to do with the neighbours;
it's you I am dealing with now. Yon have insulted this feeble old man,
and uttered words in reference to me and this girl. I want to know
what you mean."

"I don't have to explain anything," Jim retorted. "You mind yer own
business, and go to ----"

The oath had hardly left his lips ere Jasper with one lightning blow
hit him squarely between the eyes. Jim reeled back, and then with a
frightful oath leaped forward. But he was powerless before Jasper's
superior training and soon he was sprawling upon the ground while his
opponent stood bending over him.

"Had enough, eh?" Jasper asked. "If you want some more, get up. I
haven't had half enough yet."

"Leave me alone," Jim mumbled. "You'll pay up for this. I'll fix ye."

"What's that you say?" and Jasper stooped lower, "You're going to pay
me back? Well, then, I might as well fix you now, so you won't be ab