lcomb did not turn his head or raise his voice. "Pedro, vamos."

The feet of Cabenza could be heard hitting the dust as he vanished
around the corner of the house.

Without beating around the bush Harrison came to his subject. He jerked
a thumb over his right shoulder.

"It's that girl up at the house there I want to talk about."

"What about her?"

"He's got no business keeping her there. She's a straight girl."

"Is she?"

"Yes, sir. She is."

"Then why did you bring her here?" Holcomb's question was like the
thrust of a sword.

"Because I was a fool."

"Better give things their right names. You were a damned villain."

A dull flush rose to the cheeks of the prizefighter. "All right. Let it
go at that. I guess you're right. What I want to know now is whether
you're going to stand for Pasquale's play. He's got one wife
already--half a dozen, far as I know. You going to let him put this
wedding farce over without a kick?"

"Can I stop it?"

"You can register a roar, can't you?"

"Would it do any good? Did yours?"

"You're different. He needs you to drill this ragged bunch of hoboes he
calls an army. Pasquale has a lot of respect for you. He talked a lot
about you before you came."

"If you want to know, I've already spoken to him about it."

"What did he say?"

"Gave me to understand that if I'd attend to my business he'd mind his.
And I'm going to do it," concluded Holcomb with sharp decision.

"You mean you're going to lie down like a yellow dog and quit, that
you'll let this wolf take that lamb and ruin her life! Is that what you
mean?"

Holcomb sat forward in his chair, so that his strong, lean, sunburnt
face was as close to the other man as possible. "You talk both like a
coward and a fool. You brought the girl here against her will. If
Pasquale had been willing to let you force her into a marriage with you,
I wouldn't have heard a squeal out of you. But he butted in. He took her
from you. Now you come hollering to me, you quitter. Instead of fighting
it out to a finish, you run to me. Talk about yellow curs. Faugh!"

"What can I do?" exploded Harrison in a rage. "He has four men watching
her room at night now. Every time I move his cursed spies follow me.
There are two of them over there now. Pasquale won't even let me see
him. He's aimin' to have me killed, I believe."

"Serve you right," the soldier of fortune flung at him as he rose from
his chair. "Killing is none too good for your