"I made no promise, sir," she said haughtily.

"'But you will," he answered meaningly, "tomorrow."

"Stand aside!" thundered Eric.

"Come awn," soothed Irish Mike. "Not with the lady here, Eric, b'y."

"Patty, I cannot let you go! I will shoot the beast on sight."

"That would not vindicate my father's honor. Hush, he is coming. I must
remember that I am a Laughton."

Eric turned to stare moodily out the dusty window. "There goes the
cattle man with his followers and his strong-box. What he must have won!
Here comes Mike. In a hurry, too! I wonder - "

Slick-heels Saul was bowing before the girl.

"Forgive an auld Irishman for intrudin' upon so tender a scene - "
(Slick-heels glared at him malevolently), "but I have he-e-re a
something for Mistress Patty Laughton," pretending to read the
inscription on the package he held out, "from the auld boy, there, who
is just leavin' us."

"'Bread cast upon the waters of sweet charity shall be returned an
hundred fold. Blessed are the pure in heart for they are of the children
of God,' he has written. Why, it is money!" gasped Patty, "and such a
large amount!"