Let me go!"

He shrunk beneath her steady gaze. He released her arm and she stepped
up to Corliss. "I'm sorry, John," she said, and offered her hand.

"You heard it all, Nell. I'd do anything to save you all this, if I
could."

"Anything?"

"Yes."

"Well, try and get Will--to--stop drinking. He--I heard all about it.
I can't do anything to help. You ought to look after him. He's your
brother. He's telling folks in Antelope that you refused to help him.
Is that so?"

"I refused to give him two hundred dollars to blow in if that's what
you mean."

"Did you quarrel with Will?"

"No. I asked him to come home. I knew he wouldn't."

"Yes. And I think I know how you went at it. I wish I could talk to
him."

"I wish you would. You can do more with him than anybody."

Loring strode toward Corliss. The girl turned to her father. He