t on, "You know that I voted against it, and tried to stop
you when you hung old man Lewis. I thought then, and I think yet,
that it was spite work and not protection; and you know how I was
against goin' for the shepherd, and you went when I didn't know
it. As for this here bank business, I didn't even know of it,
'till you give me this stuff here for me to keep for you. I had to
take it 'count of the oath.

"It's got to be just like it was before. We come together first to
keep each other posted, and save ourselves if there was any call
to, and little by little you've been led into first one thing and
then another, 'till you're every bit and grain as bad as the old
crowd was, only there ain't so many of you, and you've kept me in
it 'cause I didn't dare leave my girl." Jim paused. There was an
ominous silence in the room.

With his eyes covering every scowling face in the company, Jim
spoke again, "But things has changed for me right smart, since our
last meetin', when you give me this stuff to hold. You boys all
know how I've kept Wash Gibbs away from my girl, and there ain't
one of you that don't know I'm right, knowin' him as we do. More'n
two weeks ago, when I wasn't around, he insulted her, and would
have done worse, if Young Matt hadn't been there to take care of
her. I called you here to-night, because I knowed that after what
happened at the mill, Wash and Bill would be havin' a meetin' as
soon as they could get around, and votin' you all to go against
Young Matt and his people. But I'm goin' to have my say first."

Wash Gibbs reached stealthily for his weapon, but hesitated when
he saw that the dark faced man noted his movement.

Jim continued, in his drawling tones, but his voice rang cold and
clear, "I ain't never been mealy mouthed with no man, and I'm too
old to begin now. I know the law of the order, and I reckon Gibbs
there will try to have you keep it. You boys have got to say
whether you'll stand by him or me. It looks like you was goin' to
go with him alright. But whether you do or don't, I don't aim to
stay with nobody that stands by such as Wash Gibbs. I'm goin' to
side with decent folks, who have stood by my girl, and you can do
your damnedest. You take this stuff away from here. And as for
you, Wash Gibbs, if you ever set foot on my place again, if you
ever cross my path after to-night I'll kill you like the measly
yeller hound you are." As he finished, Jim stood with his back to
the corner