e
office table, and moved impatiently over to a window, the view from
which commanded a section of the street, including the bank.

Van was presently engrossed in a search for quarter sections, ranges,
and townships.

"Look here," said Culver, turning upon him aggressively, "what's this
racket I hear about you taking the inside track with that stunning new
petticoat in town?"

Van looked up without the least suspicion of the man's real meaning.

"If you are referring to that reckless young woman called Queenie----"

"Oh, Queenie--rats!" interrupted Culver irritably. "You know who I
mean. I guess you call her Beth."

Van's face took on a look of hardness as if it were chiseled in stone.
He had squared around as if at a blow. For a moment he faced the
surveyor in silence.

"You are making some grave mistake," he said presently in ominous calm.
"Please don't make such an allusion as that again."

"So, the shot went home," Culver laughed unctuously, turning for a
moment from the window. "I thought it would. You know you couldn't
expect to keep anything like that all to yourself, Van Buren. You're
not the only ladies' man on the beach. And as for this clod of a
Bostwick----" He had turned to look out as before, and grew suddenly
excited. Beth was in view at the bank. "By the gods!" he exclaimed
with a sudden change of tone, "she is the handsomest bit of
confectionery on earth. If I don't win her----"

His utterance promptly ceased, together with his abominable activities
and primping in the window. Van, who did not know that this creature
had been Beth's particular annoyance, had crossed the room without a
sound and laid his grip on Culver's collar.

"You cur!" he said quietly, and choking the man he flung him down
against the floor and wall as if he had been the merest puppet.

Someone had entered the outside door. Neither Culver nor Van heard the
sound. Culver rolled over, scrambled to his feet, and with his face
and neck engorged with rage, came rushing at the horseman like a fury.

"You blackguard!" he screamed, "I'll tear out your heart for that!
I'll kill you like----"

"Shut up!" Van commanded quietly, stopping the onrush of his angered
foe by putting his hand against the surveyor's face and sending him
reeling as before. "Don't tell me what you'll do to me--or to anyone
else in this camp! And if ever I hear of you opening your mouth again
as you did here a moment ago, I'll tie a knot s