him detest fighting with the idea that only brute beasts fight--men argue
and agree."

"I've noticed that he never has trouble with the cow-punchers."

"They've seen him box," chuckled Elizabeth. "Besides, Terry isn't the
sort that troublemakers like to pick on. He has an ugly look when he's
angry."

"H'm," murmured Vance. "I've noticed that. But as long as he keeps to his
fists, he'll do no harm. But what is the reason for surrounding him with
guns, Elizabeth?"

"A very good reason. He loves them, you know. Anything from a shotgun to
a derringer is a source of joy to Terence. And not a day goes by that he
doesn't handle them."

"Certainly the effect of blood, eh?" suggested Vance.

She glanced sharply at him.

"You're determined to be disagreeable today, Vance. As a matter of fact,
I've convinced him that for the very reason he is so accurate with a gun
he must never enter a gun fight. The advantage would be too much on his
side against any ordinary man. That appeals to Terry's sense of fair
play. No, he's absolutely safe, no matter how you look at it."

"No doubt."

He looked away from her and over the valley. The day had worn into the