ey ever get, I reckon."

"You ain't got no gun. And you're too little for me to maul round--say
nothing of scaring the herd and maybe wasting a lot."

"All that is very true--to-day. But it isn't a question of guns, just
now. I'm trying to get you to shut up that big blackguard mouth of
yours. If you wasn't such a numskull you'd see that I'm a-doin' you a
good turn."

"You little sawed-off, bench-legged pup! I orter throw this gun away
and stomp you into the sand! Aw, what's a-bitin' you? I ain't named no
names, have I? You're crowdin' me purty hard. What's the matter,
feller? Got it in for me, and usin' this as an excuse? When'd I ever
do you any dirt?"

"Never," said Johnny. "Get this straight: I'm not wanting any fight.
It's decency I'm trying to crowd on to you--not a fight."

"I can't write to my girl without your say-so, hey?"

"Now you listen! Writing to a girl, fair and above-board, is one
thing. Writing unbeknownst to her folks, with loose talk about her on
the side, is another thing altogether. It's yourself you're doing dirt
to--and to this girl that trusted you."

Jody's face showed real bewilderment. "How? You don't know her name.
Nobody knows her name. No one knows I have more than a nodding
acquaintance with her--unless she told you!" His eyes flamed with
sudden suspicion. "You know her yourself--she told you!"

"Jody, you put me in mind of the stealthy hippopotamus, and likewise
of the six-toed Wallipaloova bird, that hides himself under his
wing," said Dines. "I've never been in Hillsboro, and I never saw your
girl. But when you write her a letter addressed to yourself--why don't
your dad take that letter home and keep it till you come? How is she
going to get it out of the post office? She can't--unless she works in
the post office herself. Old man Seiber is postmaster at Hillsboro.
I've heard that much. And he's got a daughter named Kitty. You see now
I was telling you true--you talk too much."

Weir's face went scarlet with rage.

"Here's a fine how-de-do about a damn little--"

That word was never uttered. Johnny's horse, with rein and knee and
spur to guide and goad, reared high and flung sidewise. White hoofs
flashed above Weir's startled eyes; Johnny launched himself through
the air straight at Jody's throat. Johnny's horse fell crashing after,
twisting, bestriding at once the other horse and the two locked and
straining men. Weir's horse floundered and went down, men and horses
rol