ised at you. Your father's old friend--who has had
you on his knee many a time. I am shocked and surprised--and mortified
and--astonished--and mortified----"

"You 've done said that one once," she said, icily.

"Why, Mary, I thought we were friends--" he began. But she cut in on
him.

"Friends!" She spoke with contempt. "You 've had it in for Dick ever
since he was a boy." Her voice suddenly broke and the tears sprang to
her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

"Why, Mary--no such thing--I assure you--Dick and I are the best of
friends--_dear_ friends."

Her sniff was more forcible than words. She wiped her eyes and looked at
him with freezing contempt.

"I 'm a fool! And I don't want you to be _Mary_-in' me, either. If Dick
chooses to let you get him drunk and make a beast and a fool of him and
drag him up before the Court like a--a--like that drunkard, Jim Turkle,
what don't know how to behave himself seemly in Court, and Circuit Court
at that--he may; but I 'll let you know, _I'm_ not goin' to do it. I
don't mean the Judge to think my husband's a thing like that. I mean to
set him right. And I 'll tell him you are nothing but an old gambler who
spends your time ruinin' young men, and braggin' as how you can bluff
anybody."

"Mary!--ur--Mrs. Creel!" gasped the Sheriff.

She stalked by him wiping her eyes, and marched straight to the door;
but the Sheriff was too quick for her. His office, his reputation,
everything hung on his pacifying her. He sprang to the door and,
standing with his back against it, began to apologize in so humble a
tone that even the angry wife could not but listen to him.

He said everything that any mortal could have said, and declared that he
would do anything on earth that she might ask.

She reflected, and he began to hope again. When their eyes met, hers
were still hard, but they were calmer.

"I know you think you are making a fool of me," she began, and then as
he protested she shut him up with a sharp gesture.

"Yes, you do, you think so; but you are not. There is but one thing I
will accept in apology."

"What is that!"

"You are to make Dick your deputy."

"But, M----"

"I knew you would n't. Stand aside." She gave a sweep of the arm.

"But, Mary!"

"Stand aside, I say--I 'd rather have you removed anyway."

"But, Mary, just listen----"

"Stand aside, or I will call." She straightened herself and looked past
him, as if listening.

"But, Mary, do be reasonable!