re of this talk about beef rustling.
Thief's a pretty hard word to use to a man's face--and get away with
it."

"'Tis a hard mon I'm usin' it tae," the Douglas retorted grimly.

"Braggin' about your nerve, are yuh, Scotty?"

"I have a name, Tam Lorrigan, and 'tisna Scotty." The Douglas face
twisted with anger. "I will no bandy worrds with ye. 'Tis ill I should
descend to the level o' them that deespitefully use me."

"Deespitefully!--why, humpin' hyenas! Ain't I letting yuh _live_? And
do yuh reckon any other man could walk up to me and call me a thief
and live long enough to take it back? Just because you're old, and
such a blamed fool you go around without a gun on yuh, I'm keepin' my
hands off you. I call yuh a coward. You wouldn't a dared to come over
here with a gun on yuh and talk the way you've done. You've got me
hog-tied. You know it. And damn yuh, I'll fight yuh now with the
law--which is the only way a coward will fight.

"You've done a heap of chawin' around about the Lorrigans, Scotty.
Don't think I ain't heard it. Maybe it's your religion to backbite
yore neighbors and say what you wouldn't dare to say to their face
with a gun on you so we'd be equal. I've passed it up. I've considered
the source and let it go. But when you come belly-achin' around about
me stealin' a spotty yearlin'--jest as if there wasn't but one on the
Black Rim range!--why, damn it, _you'll prove it_! Do you get that?
You'll prove it before a jury, or I'll sue yuh for libel and bust yuh.
I don't go much on the law, but by Henry, I'll use it on you!"

The Douglas eyes flickered uncertainly, but the Douglas mouth was
unyielding. "The law can no be cheatit so easy, Tam Lorrigan. I hae no
wush to send ye tae jail--but ye ken weel that wad be the penalty for
killin' yon beastie in the willows. I came to settle the matter fair
between neighbors, and tae warn ye to cease your evil doings on the
range. I wadna see yer woman come tae grief--"

"You can cut out that mercy talk, Scotty. And don't try to bring Belle
into this. If it comes to a showdown, lemme advise you, you'd better
sidestep Belle. The grief would all be yourn, if you and Belle lock
horns, and I'm telling yuh so."

They had reached the nearest margin of the herd. Cheyenne, a nameless
estray from the Wyoming ranges, chanced to be holding herd where the
two rode up. At him Tom looked, suspicion for the moment sharpening
his glance.

"You can ask this man what he knows a