"Not by a hell of a sight. I've got something to say to her, and I'm going
to say it."

"To-morrow," amended the officer.

"I said to-night."

"But your say doesn't go here against hers. I reckon you'll wait."

"Not so's you could notice it." The cowpuncher took a step forward toward
the stairway, but Flatray was there before him.

"Get out of the way, you. I don't stand for any butting-in," the cowboy
blustered.

"Don't be a goat, Norris. She's tired, and she says she don't want to see
you. That's enough, ain't it?"

Norris leaped back with an oath to draw his gun, but Jack had the quickest
draw in Arizona. The puncher found himself looking into the business end
of a revolver.

"Better change your mind, seh," suggested the officer amiably. "I take it
you've been drinking and you're some excited. If you were in condition to
_savez_ the situation, you'd understand that the young lady doesn't care
to see you now. Do you need a church to fall on you before you can take a
hint?"

"I reckon if you knew all about her, you wouldn't be so anxious to stand
up for her," Norris said darkly.

"I expect we cayn't any of us stand the great white light on all our acts;
but if any one can, it's that little girl upstairs."

"What would you say if I told you that she's liable to go to Yuma if I
lift my hand?"

"I'd say I was from Missouri and needed showing."

"Put up that gun, come outside with me, and if I take a notion I'll show
you all right."

Jack laughed as his gun disappeared. "I'd be willing to bet high that
there are a good many citizens around here haided straighter for Yuma than
Miss Melissy."

Without answering, Norris led the way out and stopped only when his arm
rested on the fence of the corral.

"Nobody can hear us now," he said brusquely, and the ranger got a whiff of
his hot whisky breath. "You've put it up to me to make good. All right,
I'll do it. That little girl in there, as you call her, is the bad man who
held up the Fort Allison stage."

The officer laughed tolerantly as he lit a cigarette.

"I hear you say it, Norris."

"I didn't expect you to believe it right away, but it's a fact just the
same."

Flatray climbed to the fence and rested his feet on a rail. "Fire ahead.
I'm listenin'."

"The first men on the ground after that hold-up were me and Lee. We
covered the situation thorough and got hold of some points right away."

"That's right funny too. When I asked you if you'd be