? Is he at your house?"

Then I saw that he had the reins in his left hand, and a big revolver
in his right. So there was no mistake about whether he'd really shoot.
But that gun provoked me. People have no business to be careless with
those things. They're dangerous!

"He didn't do what you think he did," I cried, "and he can prove he
didn't, if you'll stop cavorting, and listen to reason."

Mr. Pryor leaned over the fence, dark purple like a beet now.

"You tell me where he is, or I'll choke it out of you," he said.

I guess he meant it. I took one long look at his lean, clawlike
fingers, and put both hands around my neck.

"He knew Thomas saw him. He went that way," I said, waving off toward
the north.

"Hah! striking for petticoats, as usual!" he cried, and away he went in
the direction of his house. Then I flew for the Station.

"Come from there, quick!" I cried. "I've sent him back to his house,
but when he finds you're not there, he will come here again. Hurry,
and I'll put you in the woodshed loft. He'd never think of looking
there."

He came out and we started toward the house, going pretty fast. Almost
to the back gate we met Shelley.

"Does mother know?" I asked.

"I just told her," she said.

"Father," I cried, going in the back dining-room door. "Mr. Pryor was
down in the meadow on Ranger. Thomas did see Robert, and his father is
hunting him with a gun. We saw him coming, so I hid Robert in the
Station and sent Mr. Pryor back home--I guess I told him a lie, father,
or at least part of one, I said he went 'that way,' and he did, but not
so far as I made his father think; so he started back home, but when he
gets there and doesn't find Robert he'll come here again, madder than
ever. Oh father, he'll come again, and he's crazy, father! Clear,
raving crazy! I know he'll come again!"

"Yes," said father calmly. "I think it very probable that he will come
again."

Then he started around shutting and latching windows, closing and
locking the doors, and he carefully loaded his gun, and leaned it
against the front casing. Then he put on his glasses, and began
examining the papers they had brought out again. Robert stood beside
him, and explained and showed him.

"You see with me out of the way, the English law would give everything
to my cousin," he said, and he explained it all over again.

"And to think how he always posed for a perfect saint!" cried the
Princess. "Oh I ho