imed
Lance angrily.

"I know what is due to every one under this roof."

"Will you be good enough to leave this room?"

"Not if there is to be any shooting or threats of shooting that
involve my cousin."

"Dicksie, leave the room!"

There was a hush. The cowboys dropped back. Dicksie stood motionless.
She gave no sign in her manner that she heard the words, but she
looked very steadily at her cousin. "You forget yourself!" was all she
said.

"I am master here!"

"Also my cousin," murmured Dicksie evenly.

"You don't understand this matter at all!" declared Lance Dunning
vehemently.

"Nothing could justify your language."

"Do you think I am going to allow this railroad company to ruin this
ranch while I am responsible here? You have no business interfering, I
say!"

"I think I have."

"These matters are not of your affair!"

"Not of my affair?" The listeners stood riveted. McCloud felt himself
swallowing, and took a step backward with an effort as Dicksie
advanced. Her hair, loosened by her ride, spread low upon her head.
She stood in her saddle habit, with her quirt still in hand. "Any
affair that may lead my cousin into shooting is my affair. I make it
mine. This is my father's roof. I neither know nor care anything about
what led to this quarrel, but the quarrel is mine now. I will not
allow my cousin to plunge into anything that may cost him his life or
ruin it." She turned suddenly, and her eyes fell on McCloud. "I am not
willing to leave either myself or my cousin in a false position. I
regret especially that Mr. McCloud should be brought into so
unpleasant a scene, because he has already suffered rudeness at my own
hands----"

McCloud flushed. He raised his hand slightly.

"And I am very sorry for it," added Dicksie, before he could speak.
Then, turning, she withdrew from the room.

"I am sure," said McCloud slowly, as he spoke again to her cousin,
"there need be no serious controversy over the right-of-way matter,
Mr. Dunning. I certainly shall not precipitate any. Suppose you give
me a chance to ride over the ground with you again and let us see
whether we can't arrive at some conclusion?"

But Lance was angry, and nursed his wrath a long time.

CHAPTER XV

THE SHOT IN THE PASS

Dicksie walked hurriedly through the dining-room and out upon the rear
porch. Her horse was standing where she had left him. Her heart beat
furiously as she caught up the reins, but she sprang into