no further, for Angus slapped the words
back against his teeth and caught him by wrist and collar.

The struggle was short and sharp. A couple of chairs went over. And then
Angus got his grip.

"Give him th' bummer's run!" shrieked Mrs. Foley from the door.

"Open the front door!" Angus commanded Gus.

When it was open he shot Blake through with a rush and outside released
him.

"Now, Blake French, I want to tell you something," he said. "You have a
dirty tongue in your head. See that you keep it between your teeth, and
mind that never again do you come here drunk. For as sure as you do and
I hear of it, I will break half the bones in your body. Is that plain
enough for you?"

Blake swore deeply. "I'll get you for this," he threatened.

"Then get me right," said Angus, "for the next time I lay my hands on
you I will break you. Remember that."

Riding homeward beside Gus he thought over the events of the evening. It
seemed fated that he should lock horns with Blake. He regretted that he
had not thrown him out sooner. For the latter's threat he did not care
at all. As he looked at it Blake had not enough sand to make his words
good.

"Ay tank," said Gus, "dat faller, Blake, he'd do purty dirty trick."

"Maybe."

Gus was silent for a mile.

"Dat's purty fine voman," he announced.

"Yes," Angus agreed absently, "Miss Winton is a fine girl."

"Ay ent mean her," said Gus; "Ay mean dae Irish voman."

Angus grinned in the darkness. "Sure," he said, "she's a fine, strong
woman."

Gus sighed.

CHAPTER XXIV

A DEMAND AND AN ANSWER

A few days after the episode with Blake, Angus busy in his workshop
ironing a set of whiffletrees, had a visit from Godfrey French. French
made the reason of it plain at once.

"You know," he said, "that I have offered to buy my niece's land. She
doesn't want to sell, and in that I am under the impression that she is
acting on your advice? Is that so?"

"At first I advised her to sell," Angus told him, "but when I thought it
over it seemed to me she shouldn't be in a hurry."

French studied him for a moment. "What made you alter your advice?"

"It doesn't pay to be in too much of a hurry to sell."

"And sometimes it doesn't pay to refuse a fair offer. Now I was always
opposed to this foolish idea of hers that she could ranch, but I
couldn't prevent her doing it. I made up my mind, however, that she
should not lose by her play; that is that I would take the place