koning distance of that hell, Steve!"

"You she-wolf--shoot and be damned! I'd live long enough to strangle
you."

"You know me, Steve; don't be a fool."

"Know you? Nobody knows you. And God Almighty, Sally, I love you worse'n
ever; love the very way you hate me. Come here!"

He jerked her closer still, leaned; and she remembered then that
Anthony had never kissed her. She said:

"You're safe; you know he can't see you."

He threw her from him and stood snarling like a dog growling for the
bone it fears to touch because there may be poison in the taste--a
starving dog, and a bone full of toothsome marrow which has only to be
crushed in order that it may be enjoyed.

"I'm wishin' nothin' more than that he could see me."

"Then you're a worse fool than I took you for, Steve. You know he'd go
through ten like you."

"There ain't no man has gone through me yet."

"But he would. You know it. He's not stronger, maybe not so strong. But
he was born to win, Steve; he's like--he's like Drew, in a way. He can't
fail."

"If I wrung that throat of yours," he said, "I know I couldn't get out
of you where he's gone."

"Because I don't know, you see."

"Don't know?"

"He's given me the slip."

"You!"

"Funny, ain't it? But he has. Thought I couldn't ride fast enough to
keep up with him, maybe. He's gone on east, of course."

"That's another lie."

"Well, you know."

"I do."

His voice changed.

"Has he really beat it away from you, Sally?"

She watched him with a strange, sneering smile. Then she stepped close.

"Lean your ear down to me, Steve."

He obeyed.

"I'll tell you what ought to make you happy. He don't care for me no
more than I care for--you, Steve."

He straightened again, wondering.

"And you?"

"I threw myself at him. I dunno why I'm tellin' you, except it's right
that you should know. But he don't want me; he's gone on without me."

"An' you like him still?"

She merely stared, with a sick smile.

"My God!" he murmured, shaken deep with wonder. "What's he made of?"

"Steel and fire--that's all."

"Listen, Sally, forget what I've done, and--"

"Would you drop his trail, Steve?"

He cursed through his set teeth.

"If that's it--no. It's him or me, and I'm sure to beat him out.
Afterwards you'll forget him."

"Try me."

"Girls have said that before. I'll wait. There ain't no one but you for
me--damn you--I know that. I'll get him first, and then I'll wait."

"Ten lik