e other was waiting only to punish him with a
castigation of vengeful words before he shot him down and left him lying
in the trampled straw and manure of that unclean stable.

Now he had to brace himself against the tortures of a physical fear from
which he had believed himself immune. So he stood breathing unevenly and
waiting, and while he waited the temper of his nerves was being drawn as
it is drawn from over-heated steel.

"Come on with me," commanded Thornton.

The surprised man obeyed sullenly, casting an anxious eye about in the
slender hope of interruption, and when they reached the orchard where
even that chance ended Parish Thornton spoke again:

"When us two tuck oath ter sottle matters betwixt ourselves--I didn't
skeercely foresee what was comin' ter pass. Now I kain't seek ter make
ther compact hold over till a fairer time, ner seek ter change hit's
terms, nuther, without ye're willin'."

"Suppose I hain't willin'?"

For answer Parish Thornton sheathed his weapon.

"Now," he said with a deadly quiet, "we're on even terms. Either you an'
me draws our pistols an' fights twell one of us draps dead or else----"

He paused, and saw the face of his enemy go green and pasty as Rowlett
licked his lips yet left his hands hanging at his sides. At length the
intriguer demanded, "Or else--what?"

Thornton knew then beyond doubt what he already believed. This man was
quailing and had no stomach for the fair combat of duel yet he would
never relinquish his determination to glut his hatred by subterfuge.

"Or else ye've got ter enter inter a _new_ compact."

"What's thet?" A ring of hope sounded in the question, since in any
fresh deal lies the possibility of better fortune.

"Ter go on holdin' yore hand twell this feud business blows over--an' I
sarves notice on ye thet our own private war's opened up ergin."

"I reckon," said Rowlett, seeking to masquerade his relief under the
semblance of responsible self-effacement, "common decency ter other
folks lays thet need on both of us alike."

"I'm offerin' ye a free choice," warned Thornton, "but onless ye're
ready ter fight hyar an' now ye've p'int-blank got ter walk in thar an'
set down in handwrite, with yore name signed at ther bottom, a full
confession thet ye hired me shot thet night."

"Like hell I will!" Bas roared out his rejection of that alternative
with his swarthy cheekbones flaming redly, and into his rapidly and
shiftily working mind came the