recognized Miss Kingsley's voice addressing some one outside, and
it had a sharpness she had not noted before.

"So you came back, did you? Well, you don't look very proud of
yourself this mawnin'. Gene Stewart, you look like a coyote."

"Say, Flo if I am a coyote I'm not going to sneak," he said.

"What 'd you come for?" she demanded.

"I said I was coming round to take my medicine."

"Meaning you'll not run from Al Hammond? Gene, your skull is as
thick as an old cow's. Al will never know anything about what
you did to his sister unless you tell him. And if you do that
he'll shoot you. She won't give you away. She's a thoroughbred.
Why, she was so white last night I thought she'd drop at my feet,
but she never blinked an eyelash. I'm a woman, Gene Stewart and
if I couldn't feel like Miss Hammond I know how awful an ordeal
she must have had. Why, she's one of the most beautiful, the
most sought after, the most exclusive women in New York City.
There's a crowd of millionaires and lords and dukes after her.
How terrible it'd be for a woman like her to be kissed by a
drunken cowpuncher! I say it--"

"Flo, I never insulted her that way," broke out Stewart.

"It was worse, then?" she queried, sharply.

"I made a bet that I'd marry the first girl who came to town. I