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Only when the last steer had crossed the line did Steve rise suddenly, standing upright on the great log, his hands on his hips. Terry looking up into his face saw that all of the good humor had gone from it and that there was something ominous in the darkening of his eyes. "Hold on, Blenham!" he called. Blenham drew a quick rein. "That you, Packard?" he asked quietly.
Here's one point though, which it's up to you to know; I very much suspect that for reasons of his own Blenham hasn't set foot for the last time on Ranch Number Ten. He'll come back; he'll come snooping around at night; he'll perhaps have a way of knowing the first night I'm away and come then. There's something he left there that he wants. At least that is the way I'm stringing my bet.
"I'll put him on at least temporarily." "There's Yellow Barbee," suggested Royce. "Somethin' of a kid, maybe kind of wild an' harum-scarum, maybe not worth much. But he ain't a Blenham man an' he did me a good turn." Already Packard was on his feet, going to the door. "Barbee!" he shouted. "Oh, Barbee!" The bunk-house door opened, emitting its stream of light.
And while I am away you're foreman, Barbee." A flickering light danced in Barbee's blue eyes. "Orders from you, if Blenham shows up at night " "To throw a gun on him and run him out! The quickest way. To-night I want you to squat out under a tree and keep awake all night. For which you can have two days off if you want."
Blenham and Woods are quitting cold; so far as I can see you boys would be a pack of fools to make more of a stand than they are doing." The man who had laughed and who now thrust his face forward through his companions, grinned widely and announced: "We mightn't worry none about where Blenham an' Joe get off. But we ain't had our breakfasts yet!"
All you got to do is fire me." And now the pure wonder of the moment was that Blenham did not discharge Royce in three words. It was his turn for hesitation, for which there was no explanation forthcoming. Then, gripped by a rage which made him inarticulate, he whirled upon Barbee. Yellow-haired Barbee at the table promptly stood up, awaiting no second invitation to that look of Blenham's.
Steve Packard, walking swiftly, reached the west bridge just before the front tires of Terry's car thudded on the heavy planks. He glimpsed Blenham jogging along behind her and knew that Blenham had seen him. But his eyes were for Terry now. She, too, had recognized him with but a few yards separating them.
Doan," Blenham said, getting down and offering his hand to the cattle-buyer. "Count on me an' ol' man Packard doin' you a favor any time. So long." And casting to Steve a look of blended triumph and venom he hurried down to the stable and his horse. "Mr. Doan," said Steve bluntly, "what in hell's name do you mean by treating me this way?"
"It's a thousan' dollars!" "Yes," said Blenham quietly. "It's a thousan' dollars. That's quite a little wad, Barbee; it's more, anyhow, than an extra month's wages, ain't it? An' it's yours if you want it! Think of the times you can go on, think of the way you could make Red Creek open its eyes!
Think I'm the kind of a she-man as stands for you guys buttin' in on my fight? Stand back an' let him go!" "Blenham said " screamed Hodges. "Damn Blenham an' you, too," growled Woods. "It's my fight an' his. Let him go!" They let him go, drawing apart slowly. With watchful eyes Steve passed down the little lane they made. At the door he turned, saying briefly: "I'll see you in the morning, Woods!"
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