. The fellow looked rancorous. Moreover, the
ranch riders had no use for Dillon. It would be a relief if Bandy drove
him away. They felt disgraced when cowboys from the Circle Bar or the
Quarter Circle Triangle inquired for the health of their new rider Miss
Roberta.

Dud and Bob were riding Milk Creek one day about a week after Walker's
arrival. They unsaddled at noon and lay down to loaf on a sunny bank
close to the water's edge.

Hollister had been silent all morning, contrary to his usual custom. His
good spirits usually radiated gayety.

"What's the matter? Ain't you feelin' good?" Bob asked.

"No, I ain't."

"Stomach?"

"Heart," returned Dud gloomily.

Bob sat up. "Why, I never heard there was anything the matter with yore
heart. If there is, you hadn't ought to be ridin' these crazy colts you
do."

"Nothin' the matter with _my_ heart. It's yore's I'm worryin' about."

Bob flushed, but said nothing.

"I'm wonderin' how long you're aimin' to let that bully puss fellow
Walker run over you."

"What can I do?" Bob did not look at his companion. He kept his eyes on
the ground, where he was tracing figures with a broken stick.

"Well, there's seve-re-al things you could do. You might work the
plug-ugly over. It couldn't hurt his looks none, an' it might improve
'em. That's one suggestion. I've got others where that come from."

"He's a bad actor. I expect he'd half kill me," Bob muttered.

"I reckon he would, onless you beat him to it. That's not the point. You
got to fight him or admit you're yellow. No two ways about that."

"I can't fight. I never did," groaned Dillon.

"Then how do you know you can't? If you can't, take yore lickin'. But you
be on top of him every minute of the time whilst you're gettin' it. Go to
it like a wild cat. Pretty soon something'll drop, an' maybe it won't be
you."

"I--can't."

Dud's blue eyes grew steely. "You can't, eh? Listen, fellow. I promised
Blister to make a man outa you if I could. I aim to do it. You lick Bandy
good to-night or I'll whale you to-morrow. That ain't all either. Every
time you let him run on you I'll beat you up next day soon as I get you
alone."

Bob looked at him, startled. "You wouldn't do that, Dud?"

"Wouldn't I? Don't you bet I wouldn't. I'm makin' that promise right
now."

"I thought you were--my friend," Bob faltered.

"Don't you think it. I'm particular who I call by that name. I ain't a
friend of any man without sand in his g