nt on me an' ol' man
Packard doin' you a favor any time. So long."

And casting to Steve a look of blended triumph and venom he hurried
down to the stable and his horse.

"Mr. Doan," said Steve bluntly, "what in hell's name do you mean by
treating me this way?"

Doan turned his thin impassive face with the hawk-eyes toward young
Packard.

"Who do you happen to be?" he asked coolly.

"I'm Steve Packard from Ranch Number Ten. And I've got a herd of
steers out here that's been waiting for you some time now."

"Oh, yes," said Doan, still very cool. "Got my wire, didn't you,
saying that I was unavoidably detained?"

"I did not!" snapped Steve. "Detained by what? Blenham?"

"Strange," murmured Doan.

He got down from his car and stretched his long legs.

"I've had a new secretary, Mr. Packard. I found out that he drank. He
has been discharged. Hem. Let me see: you've got about fifty steers,
haven't you?"

"I've got a hundred and eighty-six," Steve said sharply, staring at
Doan's inscrutable face and wondering just what was up.

"A hundred and eighty-six!" Doan shook his head. "I couldn't take that
many on just now; I've made other plans. Unless, of course, you are in
a position to tempt me to buy by making me a very attractive figure!"

Steve came a sudden step nearer, his eyes blazing, his two fists
clenched.

"What's this game of yours?" he demanded. "Out with it. What are you
up to? You wired me an offer of ten to twelve cents, twelve and a half
for the fancy."

"What!" cried Doan. "Why, my dear fellow, you must have lost your
senses! With the market the way it is now I don't have to pay more
than seven and eight cents."

Steve waited for no more. His days of waiting were past. He drew
back, swung from the shoulder and struck with all of his might. His
fist against Doan's chin hurled the lean body of the cattle-buyer half
across the street.

"Barbee," said Steve quietly, "round up the boys. We start our herd
back in ten minutes."

And Barbee, taking stock of Steve's white face, went hastily on his
errand.

CHAPTER XXIII

STEVE RIDES BY THE TEMPLE PLACE

"Dear me, Mr. Man! How savage you do look!"

Steve started and whirled. No; this time he was not dreaming. It was
Terry.

Terry laughed lightly, deliciously. She had grown prettier. She had
learned a new way to smile. No, it was just the old way, after all.
But she had discovered a new way to do her hair, an a