f the boys, and now she
was thinking of this man as the murderer.

"You best go," she said, vainly trying to keep her voice steady.

But the man made no move. His malevolent stare had become more
intense. Suddenly he laughed, his teeth baring, but his eyes remaining
unchanged.

"So that's it, eh?" he said. Then the malevolence of his eyes changed
to an angry fire. "I'm going sure, but not till I've done what I came
to do. Y'see, there's no great hurry. Folks aren't chasin' me here.
Here, I'm a respectable, hard-working gold prospector. An' I've been
down at the saloon an' talked with the folks. Bluff, eh? Gold
prospector. Gee! We know differently, eh? Don't we? Oh, yes, I'm
goin'--when it suits me. Not when it suits you. Guess you'd be glad to
be rid of me, eh? So it would leave room for Jim Thorpe. Oh, I've
heard. All the folks are talking."

The girl started. An angry flush slowly mounted to her cheeks, and a
sudden sparkle lit her eyes.

"But he don't cut any ice with me," the man went on with a laugh. "You
won't get him. Nor will any other woman. They're goin' to hang him.
Say, what was his price for riding out to me? Did you pay it
beforehand, or do you reckon to pay it before they hang him? Ha, ha!
guess you ain't paid it yet. Men don't work for women after they get
their pay. I'd say you're shrewd enough someways."

Eve's fury at the man's loathsome suggestion drove her beyond all
caution. And she flung her answer at him with a hatred that was wholly
infuriating to the man.

"You best go. Remember, I know the truth of you," she cried. "We've
saved you from the rope, once. I still have it in my power to----"

"Eh?"

He stepped up to her and stood, his face within a few inches of hers.

"So that's it, is it? You'd give me away. You!" He shook his head
slowly, all his purpose plainly written in his furious eyes. "You
won't give me away. I'll see to that. For two pins I'd silence you
now, only--only it isn't what I want. But don't make a mistake, you
won't give me away. Sit down. Sit down right there in the chair behind
you."

He stood over her, compelling her with the force behind his command,
and the terrified woman found herself obeying him against her will.
She almost fell into the chair. Then the man turned back to the door
and secured it.

"We don't want any one buttin' in," he said. "I've got to do a big
talk first, then I get goin'."

He came back and stood beside the stove, opposite her, so