Duke, quick to read in Belle's face what softening
effect Lance had on her temper. "Tryin' to be smart--tryin' to be
George Wash'nton! You little liar, you know you chased Blackie more'n
what I done. Sneak out of it--yeah, that's you, every time. Own up
just enough to make Belle think you're an angel. Doggone the whole
doggone outfit!"

"_Now_ what?" Tom's voice broke in upon Duke's shrill tirade. From
the back of his horse Tom looked down quizzically upon them. "Duke,
what you been up to?"

"Aw, you always think it's me! Why don't you ask Lance what he's been
up to? Why don't you lick Lance for being on the stable? If I was to
get up there and tromp around in the hay and make it leak, I know what
_I'd_ git!"

Tom sent a glance up to where Lance was hastily scrambling down a
corner. "You'd better!" he commented sternly. Then he looked at Belle,
his eyes twinkling under his scowl.

"If you can't handle these young devils, Belle, turn 'em over to me.
I'll mighty quick settle their hash for 'em."

Belle gripped tighter the squirming Duke. "I'm not a cripple yet, Tom
Lorrigan. They've both got a licking coming to 'em, and if you'll
kindly walk off stage R. C. I'll go on with the scene. You weren't
cued to come on here."

"It's your show, Belle," Tom assented, and very obligingly rode to
the other side of the stable to unsaddle his horse, and grinned to
himself when the sound of wailing and pleading and promises of the
"I'll-never-do-it-again" variety came to his ears. Belle's lickings
were distinguished chiefly by their uproar.

"Belle wallops 'em like brandin' calves," Tom used to chuckle. "They
beller a plenty while it's going on, and kick up their heels when it's
all over. I wish't my dad had licked me like that when I was a kid.
You can gamble, when I was thrashed, I knowed it!"

Duke grew up to be a very good cowpuncher, however. He knew every draw
and dry wash, every creek bottom and every canyon on the Black Rim
range; knew almost as well as the owner how many cattle carried every
brand. In the Devil's Tooth round-ups Duke held his place alongside Al
as a top hand,--disputing now and then the right of young Lance to
compete with him, but never quite daring to bring his dispute to the
point where action would take the place of words.

"Duke's sure enough a bad man--with his face," Tom once snarled to
Belle. "Make it a talking match, and Duke could lick any old woman, in
the Black Rim country."

"There's