out the independents this year if Ward Latisan
stays on the job for Eck Flagg. The death clinch comes this season!"

"Where's your law up this way, Mr. Brophy?" she demanded.

"I guess neither side dares to call on the law right now. Law might tie
up everything. Logs have got to come along with the spring driving
pitch, and high water won't wait till lawyers get done arguing."

He took down a gong and pounded on it with a padded mallet while he
marched through the office to the porch and back again. It was the
breakfast call.

"I'll say about Eck Flagg," he stated, when he hung the gong back on its
hook, "that he ain't so much to blame for his sour temper as some folks
are bound to have it. Old Job of the Bible had nothing on Eck for
troubles. No matter what he has done, Eck has been a square fighter.
Probably you ain't interested, even to the extent of a hoot, in gossip
about the neighbors. But Eck had a bad one put over on him years ago. He
hasn't been right since that time. Square dealing is his religion. But
to get his worst trimming right in his own family, it was awful.
Son-in-law done it. But I reckon I'd better hang up on that subject,
miss. Here comes Latisan for breakfast."

The landlord plodded out.

This man who seated himself, waiting to be served by her, who was
determined to possess her, had been unwittingly alienated by her from
the duty which was owed to that helpless grandfather in his extremity.

The reminder which Brophy had tossed at her carelessly had served to
rouse her to desperation. She clung to a service table to keep from
falling. She staggered when she started to cross the room to Latisan;
her hands and feet were prickling as the blood resumed its course in her
veins.

"You're sick," he suggested, solicitously.

She shook her head. She turned her face from him, afraid of his
questioning gaze. "Give your order, please!"

"Bring anything."

She started away, but turned and hurried back to his table, her face
hard with resolution. She feared that the resolution would be weakened
by delay; in a few moments others would come into the room.

"I have changed my mind about that offer of marriage. This morning I
say, 'Yes!'"

He gaped at her and started to rise.

"Don't leave that chair!" she commanded, her low tones tense. "There are
men in the office looking this way. I'll marry you when the Flagg drive
is down, with you at the head of it, doing your duty. You may think that
over