if he had just listened to something
profoundly humorous. "Step-father?" He shook his head. He moved a step
nearer, his swaying body ill-balanced as he approached. "I'm no
step-father to you, kid. There ain't a sign of relationship. You're your
mother's kid by her man, the man she married, and she and I never saw
the inside of a church together. She couldn't have married me if I'd
felt that way. Her man's alive I guess. Leastways, we ain't heard of his
death. I'm no step-father of yours. That's the stuff she handed you so
you wouldn't think bad of her. I couldn't marry her and didn't want to,
but I can marry you. See? And this hundred thousand dollars makes it so
I can hand you----"

He lurched forward, his arms out-held. And as he came Keeko sprang back.

"Quit it!" she threatened. "Quit! A step nearer and----"

But the man's passions were aflame. He laughed roughly.

"Quit nothing," he cried. "You can't fool me. I'm out to make good for
you, and you're standing in. You're going to----"

"You fool man!"

Keeko's tone was cold and her words full of contempt. The white ring of
her gun barrel covered him squarely. It was directed at the pit of his
stomach, while her eyes, alight with cold purpose, stared unflinchingly
into his drunk and passion-distorted face.

The man's movement ceased. The animal shining in his eyes changed to a
sudden, livid fury. The standing veins at his temples visibly pulsed,
and Keeko knew he was only gathering afresh the forces which her action
had momentarily paralyzed. With lightning impulse she seized the chance
afforded her.

"You cur! You filthy brute!" she cried fiercely. "Do you think you can
play me as you play the miserable women of the Shaunekuks? Get sense as
quick as you know how. Get sense. Do you hear? Get out and do the work
you reckon to do, but don't dare to make an inch towards me, or you'll
never live to do the murder you're reckoning on."

It was the promptness, the strength and nerve of it all that achieved
the girl's purpose. There was no pretence now. Her eyes were alight with
a sober, frigid hate and determination.

The man understood. His fury was that of a man whose lusts are thwarted,
but his helplessness before the threatening gun was sufficiently
obvious.

He sobered abruptly, as once before Keeko had sobered him.

"You can put up your gun," he cried savagely.

He waited. As the girl ignored his invitation he turned abruptly to the
counter.

But he