"I'm with my boss clear down the
line. And as soon as she lets me turn loose my six-gun, you'll
hear it pop, seh."
"I have not a doubt of it, Mr. McWilliams," returned the sheepman
blithely. "In the meantime I was going to say that though most of
my interests are in sheep instead of cattle--"
"I thought most of your interests were in other people's
property," interrupted the young woman.
"It goes into sheep ultimately," he smiled. "Now, what I am
trying to get at is this: I'm in debt to you a heap, Miss
Messiter, and since I'm not all yellow cur, I intend to play fair
with you. I have ordered my sheep back across the deadline. You
can have this range to yourself for your cattle. The fight's off
so far as we personally are concerned."
A hint of deeper color touched her cheeks. Her manner had been
cavalier at best; for the most part frankly hostile; and all the
time the man was on an errand of good-will. Certainly he had
scored at her expense, and she was ashamed of herself.
"Y'u mean that you're going to respect the deadline? asked Mac in
surprise.
"I didn't say quite that," explained the sheepman. "What I said
was that I meant to keep on my side of it so far as the Lazy D
cattle are concerned.
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