k. These folks are going to stay in this shack and on this
Bend. _And you be mighty careful you don't make 'em any trouble!_"

"I'll git a Bismarck lawyer," declared Matthews.

"Yes, and we'll tar and feather the shyster. What's more, I'll head a
bunch of Clark's boys, and we'll wipe Shanty Town off the face of the
earth."

Matthews raised his shoulders and put his tongue in his cheek. "You're
mighty interested in these ladies, seems t' me," he said insinuatingly.

The slur did not escape the storekeeper. It determined him to parley no
further. "Hoist your hands!" he commanded.

Matthews obeyed. His fingers were twitching.

The next command was curt. "Mosey!"

The other moved away. When he was beyond pistol range, he produced his
second revolver and waved it above his head. "You jus' wait!" he
shouted. "You jus' wait! I'll fix y'!"

Lounsbury returned him a mocking salute.

CHAPTER X

AN APPEAL TO HEADQUARTERS

As Matthews ceased his threatening and strode on, a new fear came over
Dallas. She leaned toward Lounsbury from the window. "What does he mean
by 'fixing you'?" she asked hoarsely.

The storekeeper was still watching riverward, and he answered without
turning his head. "He means it's a case of shoot on sight," he said.

"Then you mustn't go near him--you must go back to Clark's. Promise me
you will! I can take care of Marylyn till dad comes. If you got
hurt----"

Lounsbury threw one leg over the pommel and sat sideways for a while,
buckling and unbuckling his reins. When he spoke, it was very gently,
and again he did not look at her. "Hadn't you better wrap up a little?"
he suggested. "It's cold."

She put a coat about Marylyn. "It ain't right for you to make our
quarrel yours. You mustn't. I wouldn't have you hurt on our account for
anything." Her eyes beseeched him.

He glanced at her. "It's worth a lot to know you feel that way," he said
slowly. "But--I'm afraid I can't do what you want. It's _your_ safety
that counts with me."

Marylyn's face had been hidden, to shut out the dread sight of Matthews.
Now she lifted it. She said nothing. But as if suddenly smitten by a
painful thought, she turned from Dallas to Lounsbury, from Lounsbury to
Dallas, questioningly, doubtfully. She drew to one side a few steps, and
stood alone.

The movement escaped the others. The storekeeper had slipped from his
saddle to pick up Matthews' revolver. And the elder girl, against whom
was setting in a