"In this here country all the rustlers an' thieves an'
cut-throats an' gun-throwers an' all-round no-good men jest
happen to be Gentiles. Ma'am, which of the no-good class does
that young feller belong to?"

"He belongs to none of them. He's an honest boy."

"You KNOW that, ma'am?"

"Yes--yes."

"Then what has he done to get tied up that way?"

His clear and distinct question, meant for Tull as well as for
Jane Withersteen, stilled the restlessness and brought a
momentary silence.

"Ask him," replied Jane, her voice rising high.

The rider stepped away from her, moving out with the same slow,
measured stride in which he had approached, and the fact that his
action placed her wholly to one side, and him no nearer to Tull
and his men, had a penetrating significance.

"Young feller, speak up," he said to Venters.

"Here stranger, this's none of your mix," began Tull. "Don't try
any interference. You've been asked to drink and eat. That's more
than you'd have got in any other village of the Utah border.
Water your horse and be on your way."