is hips hung two
guns, spurs clinked when he stepped unguardedly. He rarely stepped
that way, however.

When presently the girl at the melodeon ceased and drew the lid over
the keys with reverent fingers, he moved silently back a pace or two
along the wall. Then he waited. As he had anticipated, she came to the
door to look upon the budding world, and for another moment he watched
her with a strange expression. Then he swung forward and let the spurs
rattle. Tharon flashed to face him like a startled animal.

"Hello, Tharon," he said and smiled. The girl stared at him with quick
insolence.

"Howdy," she said coldly.

He came close to the doorway, put one hand on the facing, the other on
his hip and leaned near. She drew back. He reached out suddenly and
gripped her wrist in fingers that bit like steel.

"Pretty," he said, while his dark eyes narrowed.

Tharon flung her whole young strength against his grip with a
twisting wrench and came free. The quick, tremendous effort left her
calm. And she did not retreat a step.

"Hell," said the man admiringly, "little wildcat!"

"What you want?" she asked sharply.

"You," he answered swiftly.

"Buck Courtrey," she said, "you might own an' run Lost Valley--all but
one outfit. You ain't never run Last nor put your dirty hand on th'
Holdin'. An' that ain't all. You never will. If you ever touch me
again, I'll tell Dad Jim an' he'll kill you. I'd a-told him before
when you met me that day on the range, only I didn't want his honest
hands smutted up with such as you. He's had his killin's before--but
they was always in fair-an'-open. You he'd give no quarter--if he knew
what you ben askin' me."

The man's eyes narrowed evilly. They became calculating.

"Tell him," he said.

"Eh?"

"Tell him."

"You want to feed th' buzzards?" the girl asked with an insulting peal
of laughter.

"Not yet--but I'll remember that speech some day."

"Remember an' be damned," said Tharon. "Now kindly take your dirty
carcass off Last's Holding--back to your wife."

The fire was flashing a little in her blue eyes as she spoke, and she
half turned to enter the house.

As she did so, Courtrey flung out an arm and caught her about the
shoulders. He drew her against him with the motion and kissed her
square on the lips. For a second his narrowed eyes were drunken.

As he loosed her Tharon gasped like a swimmer sinking.

She put up a hand and drew it across her mouth, which was pale a