hat you would say," replied the man. "It would be bearable
here--in fact, it might be enjoyable were it not for the black shadow
upon us. Rather it is a shadow which is blood-red instead of black."

His voice rose, and excitement glowed in his deep-set, clear gray eyes.
His face lost its pallor, and his well-shaped, yet strong hands clutched
nervously at the arms of his chair.

The girl turned toward him soothingly, when both paused and listened.

"It is some Indian going by," said the man, as hoof-beats became
distinct.

"The Indians don't ride this late. Besides, no Indian would stop here."

The man stepped to an adjoining room. As he disappeared, there came the
sound of footfalls on the porch and Bill Talpers's heavy knock made the
front door panels shake.

The girl hesitated a moment, and then opened the door. The trader walked
in without invitation, his new boots squeaking noisily. If he had
expected any exhibition of fear on the part of the girl, Talpers was
mistaken. She looked at him calmly, and Bill shifted uneasily from one
foot to another as he took off his hat.

"I thought I'd drop in for a little social call, seein' as you ain't
called on me sence our talk about that letter," said Bill, seating
himself at the table.

"It was what I might have expected," replied the girl.

"That's fine," said Bill amiably. "I'm tickled to know that you expected
me."

"Yes, knowing what a coward you are, I thought you would come."

Talpers flushed angrily, and then grinned, until his alkali-cracked lips
glistened in the lamplight.

"That's the spirit!" he exclaimed. "I never seen a more spunky woman,
and that's the kind I like. But there ain't many humans that can call me
a coward. I guess you don't know how many notches I've got on the handle
of this forty-five, do you?" he asked, touching the gun that swung in a
holster at his hip under his coat. "Well, there's three notches on
there, and that don't count an Injun I got in a fair fight. I don't
count any _coups_ unless they're on white folks."

"I'm not interested in your record of bloodshed." The girl's voice was
low, but it stung Bill to anger.

"Yes, you are," he retorted. "You're goin' to be mighty proud of your
husband's record. You'll be glad to be known as the wife of Bill
Talpers, who never backed down from no man. That's what I come over here
for, to have you say that you'll marry me. If you don't say it, I'll
have to give that letter over to the a