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Randerson ran to where Kelso lay, gasping and panting for breath. He knelt beside him. "You talkin' straight, Kelso?" he asked. "Did Masten hire you to put me out of business?" "Sure," whispered Kelso. "Where's Masten stayin'?" "With Chavis in the shack. He's been there right along, except," he finished, with a grim attempt at humor, "when he's been rushin' that biscuit-shooter in Lazette."
Chavis paid no attention to this remonstrance. He seized Ruth's pony by the bridle and began to lead it up the slope toward the plateau. Kester laid a restraining hand on his arm. He spoke rapidly; he seemed to have become, in a measure, imbued with the same passion that had taken possession of Chavis. "Leave the cayuse here; she'll be huntin' for it, directly; she'll come right down here.
It struck him fairly on the forehead and broke into many pieces, which clattered and rang on the bare board floor. The sound they made, the smashing, dull impact as the jar had struck Chavis, caused her heart to leap in wild applause twanging a cord of latent savagery in her that set her nerves singing to its music. It was the first belligerent act of her life.
An' I reckon you was more excited then, or you'd know better than to say you did it. Me an' Hagar was just gettin' off our horses here at the door after comin' from the Flyin' W. An' I saw Tom Chavis in the cabin. He was facin' the door, ma'am," he said at a venture, and his eyes gleamed when he saw her start, "an' I saw what he was up to. An' I perforated him, ma'am. From outside, here.
"You were range boss after Harkness' death," persisted Masten. "Why didn't you discharge Chavis?" "I'm askin' the new boss for permission to do it now," declared Vickers. "It'll be a good wind-up for my stay here." "We shall keep Chavis for the present," said Ruth. "However," she added firmly, "he shall not be range boss. I do not like him." Vickers grinned silent applause.
They were like their horses which now unleashed in the corral were running, neighing, kicking up their heels in their momentary delight of freedom. The girl understood and sympathized with them, but she caught a glimpse of Chavis and Pickett, sitting close together on a bench at the front of the messhouse, talking seriously, and a cloud came over her face.
For she had unconsciously studied him in the few minutes preceding the death of Pickett, and she was as unconsciously imitating him now. Her thoughts ceased, however, when she saw Chavis grin at her, mockingly. "It's a bluff!" he said. "You couldn't hit the ground, if you had a-hold of the gun with both hands!" He moved slightly, measuring the distance between them.
But he left them shortly afterward, lighting a fresh cigar and walking toward the bunkhouse, which was deserted, for Chavis and Pickett had gone to a distant part of the range. Thus Masten did not see Vickers, when a little later he came out on the porch with his war-bag. He said good-bye to Aunt Martha and Uncle Jepson, and then he took Ruth's hand and held it long.
"It's in their faces drat 'em," insisted Uncle Jepson. He turned a vindictive eye on his niece. "If I'd have been fifty year younger I'd have give that Chavis a durn good thrashin' for sayin' what he did to you about pretty gals. Durn his hide, anyhow! That there Wil " "I felt that way myself, at first," smiled Ruth. "Afterwards, though, I felt differently.
He's dead scared to come here any more, since Randerson's aimin' to perforate him!" Only one conscious emotion afflicted her at this minute: rage over Chavis' inability to understand that she was not of the type of woman who could discuss such matters with a man. Evidently, in his eyes, all women were alike.
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