The Stranger's voice (gasping): "I--I--promise!"

Jeff's voice (low and desperate): "Get up out of that! Sit down thar!
Now hear me! I'm not resisting your process. If you had all h-ll as
witnesses you daren't say that. I've shut up your foul jaw, and kept
it from poisoning the air, and thar's no law in Californy agin it! Now
listen. What! You will, will you?"

Everything quiet; a bird twittering on the window ledge, nothing more.

The Stranger's voice (very huskily): "I cave! Gimme some whiskey."

Jeff's voice: "When we're through. Now listen! You can take possession
of the house; you can stand behind the bar and take every cent that
comes in; you can prevent anything going out; but as long as Mr.
Mayfield and his family stay here, by the living God--law or no
law--I'll be boss here, and they shall never know it!"

The Stranger's voice (weakly and submissively): "That sounds square.
Anythin' not agin the law and in reason, Jeff!"

Jeff's voice: "I mean to be square. Here is all the money I have, ten
dollars. Take it for any extra trouble you may have to satisfy me."

A pause--the clinking of coin.

The Stranger's voice (deprecatingly): "Well! I reckon that would be
about fair. Consider the trouble" (a weak laugh here) "just now. 'Tain't
every man ez hez your grip. He! he! Ef ye hadn't took me so suddent