"You mean I lie?" she flashed.

"Yes, I do--if--"

But before he could conclude she slapped his face. It grew pale then,
while she began to tremble.

"Oh--I didn't intend that. Forgive me," she faltered.

He rubbed his cheek. The hurt had not been great, so far as the blow was
concerned. But his eyes were dark with pain and anger.

"Oh, don't distress yourself," he burst out. "You slapped me
before--once, years ago--for kissing you. I--I apologize for saying you
lied. You're only out of your head. So am I."

That poured oil upon the troubled waters. The cowboy appeared to be
hesitating between sudden flight and the risk of staying longer.

"Maybe that's it," replied Columbine, with a half-laugh. She was not
far from tears and fury with herself. "Let us make up--be
friends again."

Moore squared around aggressively. He seemed to fortify himself against
something in her. She felt that. But his face grew harder and older than
she had ever seen it.

"Columbine, do you know where Jack Belllounds has been for these three
years?" he asked, deliberately, entirely ignoring her overtures of