o hear any
more," she said. "I heard the shots here on the porch. I suppose you
were so far away at that time that you couldn't hear them?"

He writhed again under the scorn in her voice. But he spoke again,
earnestly. "I did hear some shootin'," he said, "after I'd gone on a
ways. But I reckoned it was Ben."

"What do you suppose he would be shooting at at that time of the
night?" she demanded.

"Why, I don't remember that I was doin' a heap of wonderin' at that
time about it," he returned hesitatingly. "Mebbe I thought he was
shootin' at a sage-hen, or a prairie-dog--or somethin'. I've often
took a shot at somethin' like that--when I've been alone that way." He
took a step toward her, his whole lithe body alive and tingling with
earnestness. "Why, ma'am, there's a big mistake somewheres. If I
could talk to Ben I'm sure I could explain----"

She drew her skirts close and stepped back toward the door. "There is
nothing to explain--now," she said coldly. "Ben is doing nicely, and
when he has fully recovered you will have a chance to explain to
him--if you are not afraid."

"Afraid?" he laughed grimly. "I expect, ma'am, that things look pretty
bad for me. They always do when someone's tryin' to make 'em. I
reckon there ain't any use of tryin' to straighten it out now--you
won't listen. But I'm tellin' you this: When everything comes out
you'll see that I didn't shoot your brother."

"Of course not," sneered the girl. "You did not shoot him. Stafford
did not hire you to do it. You didn't come here, pretending that you
had been bitten by a rattler, so that you might have a chance to worm
yourself into my brother's favor--and then shoot him. You haven't been
hanging around Bear Flat all summer, pretending to look for stray Two
Diamond cattle. You haven't been trying to make a fool of me----" Her
voice trembled and her lips quivered suspiciously.

"Well, now," said Ferguson, deeply moved; "I'm awful sorry you're
lookin' at things like you are. But I wasn't thinkin' to try an' make
a fool of you. Things that I said to you I meant. I wouldn't say
things to a girl that I said to you if----"

She had suddenly stepped into the cabin and as suddenly reappeared
holding the rifle that was kept always behind the door. She stood
rigid on the porch, her eyes blazing through the moisture in them.

"You go now!" she commanded hotly; "I've heard enough of your lies!
Get away from this cabin! If I ever