h the toe of his boot. As in every clash he had had with
her yet, he emerged feeling like a reproved school boy. What made it
worse was that he was beginning to feel that there was no justification
for his rage against her. As in the present case, he had been the
aggressor and deserved all the scorn she had heaped upon him. But the
rage was with him, nevertheless, perhaps the more poignant because he
felt its impotency. He looked around at Dade. That young man was
trying to appear unconscious of the embarrassing predicament of his
fellow workman. He endeavored to lighten the load for him.

"She certainly does talk straight to the point," he said. "But I
reckon she don't mean more'n half of it."

Calumet shot a malignant look at him. "Who in hell is askin' for
_your_ opinion?" he demanded.

The paint, however, was secured, Calumet making the trip to Lazette for
it. He returned after dark, and Bob, who was sitting in the kitchen
where Betty was washing the dishes, hobbled out to greet him. Bob had
been outside only a few minutes when Betty heard his voice, raised
joyously. She went to a rear window, but the darkness outside was
impenetrable and she could see nothing. Presently, though, she heard
Bob's step on the porch, and almost instantly he appeared, holding in
his arm a three-month-old puppy of doubtful breed. He radiated delight.

"Calumet brought it!" he said, in answer to Betty's quick
interrogation. "He said it was to take the place of Lonesome. I
reckon he ain't so bad, after all--is he Betty?"

Betty patted the puppy's head, leaning over so that Bob did not see the
strange light in her eyes.

"He's nice," she said.

"Who?" said Bob, quickly--"Calumet?"

Betty rose, her face flushing. "No," she said sharply; "the puppy."

Bob looked at her twice before he said, in a slightly disappointed
voice, "Uh-huh."

When Calumet came into the kitchen half an hour later, having stabled
his horses and washed his face and hands from the basin he found on the
porch, he found his supper set out on the table; but Betty was nowhere
to be seen.

"Where's Betty?" he demanded of Bob, who was romping delightedly with
the new dog, which showed its appreciation of its new friend by yelping
joyously.

"I reckon she's gone to bed," returned the young man.

For a few minutes Calumet stood near the door, watching the dog and the
boy. Several times he looked toward the other doors, disappointment
revealed i