n beneath a coating of
brick red. Her eyes blurred for a moment, then a swift hardness came
into them and her small fists clenched at her sides.

"We will not discuss the matter of your inheritance, further, for the
moment." The lawyer's voice, smooth as oil, came from just behind her.
"You will listen to reason, I know, when you have had time for
consideration. Mr. Baggott, here, will agree with me that you must
accept the conditions of your grandfather's will----"

"Mr. Baggott will do nothing of the kind," vociferated that gentleman,
suddenly. "I've listened to all you had to say, and kept my mouth
shet, but since you're bringing me into this, you might as well know
where I stand. Billie's going to do just what she damn' pleases about
this. She don't need the old scoundrel's money--she's got plenty of
her own, and she's not going to be shanghaied across the border while
I'm here to prevent it!"

"Sir----!"

"Never mind, Jim." The girl wheeled quickly. "I've changed my mind.
Mr. North, I'll go with you. I'll accept the conditions and whatever
goes with them. When do we start?"

The lawyer gasped.

"Why--ah, as soon as you can arrange your affairs here. Allow me to
say, my dear Miss Murdaugh, that I am delighted----"

"That's all right, Mr. North," she cut him short with a weary little
gesture. "I--I guess I was kind of hasty. I've got a lot to learn,
and a lot to do, and I may as well begin right away. If you don't
mind, I'll ride back to the Casa de Limas now, and I'll be ready to
start to-morrow morning. So long, Jim."

Avoiding the bewildered reproach in Jim Baggott's honest eyes, and
unmindful of the lawyer's congratulatory hand, Gentleman Geoff's Billie
turned and went out of the door. A moment later, the wild scramble of
her pinto's hoofs echoed back to them from the hard-packed road.

"Women, my dear Baggott!" North shrugged expressively. "They are the
curse of the law courts; they never know their own minds."

"Don't you believe it." Jim awoke from his stupor. "Billie knows
her'n, all right. She's got something up her sleeve, you can bank on
that, and its an ace card in whatever game she's playing. But what in
tarnation the stakes are that she's after is more'n I know. I don't
envy you, Mr. North, you and that lady that's going to make our Billie
over. You'd better take off your coat and spit on your hands, for
you've got the stiffest job ahead of you that you ever tackled.