Dick, he'd shoot you in the back."

"No, Nell, a man of his kind wouldn't have nerve enough even for that."

"You'll go?" she cried wildly.

Gale smiled, and the smile made Belding cold.

"Dick, I cannot keep you back?"

"No," he said.

Then the woman in her burst through instinctive fear, and with her eyes
blazing black in her white face she lifted parted quivering lips and
kissed him.

Gale left the patio, and Belding followed closely at his heels. They
went through the sitting-room. Outside upon the porch sat the rangers,
Mr. Gale, and Thorne. Dick went into his room without speaking.

"Shore somethin's comin' off," said Ladd, sharply; and he sat up with
keen eyes narrowing.

Belding spoke a few words; and, remembering an impression he had wished
to make upon Mr. Gale, he made them strong. But now it was with grim
humor that he spoke.

"Better stop that boy," he concluded, looking at Mr. Gale. "He'll do
some mischief. He's wilder'n hell."

"Stop him? Why, assuredly," replied Mr. Gale, rising with nervous
haste.

Just then Dick came out of his door. Belding eyed him keenly. The
only change he could see was that Dick had put on a hat and a pair of
heavy gloves.

"Richard, where are you going?" asked his father.

"I'm going over here to see a man."

"No. It is my wish that you remain. I forbid you to go," said Mr.
Gale, with a hand on his son's shoulder.

Dick put Mr. Gale aside gently, respectfully, yet forcibly. The old
man gasped.

"Dad, I haven't gotten over my bad habit of disobeying you. I'm sorry.
Don't interfere with me now. And don't follow me. You might see
something unpleasant."

"But my son! What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to beat a dog."

Mr. Gale looked helplessly from this strangely calm and cold son to the
restless Belding. Then Dick strode off the porch.

"Hold on!" Ladd's voice would have stopped almost any man. "Dick, you
wasn't agoin' without me?"

"Yes, I was. But I'm thoughtless just now, Laddy."

"Shore you was. Wait a minute, Dick. I'm a sick man, but at that
nobody can pull any stunts round here without me."

He hobbled along the porch and went into his room. Jim Lash knocked
the ashes out of his pipe, and, humming his dance tune, he followed
Ladd. In a moment the rangers appeared, and both were packing guns.

Not a little of Belding's grim excitement came from observation of Mr.
Gale. At sight of the rangers with their guns the ol