" The man
turned his villainous smile on his cousin, and the latter
interpreted it to mean that if he preferred, the point of attack
might be shifted to the girl. He might go or he might stay. But
if he stayed the mistress of the Lazy D would have to pay for his
decision.
"No, I'll ride," he said at once.
Helen Messiter had missed the meaning of that Marconied message
that flashed between them. She set her jaw with decision. "Well,
you'll not. It's perfectly ridiculous. I won't hear of such a
thing."
"Y'u seem right welcome. Hadn't y'u better stay, Ned?" murmured
the outlaw, with smiling eyes that mocked.
"Of course he had. He couldn't ride a mile-- not half a mile. The
idea is utterly preposterous."
The sheepman got to his feet unsteadily. " I'll do famously."
"I won't have it. Why are you so foolish about going? He said you
didn't need to go. You can't ride any more than a baby could chop
down that pine in the yard."
"I'm a heap stronger than y'u think."
"Yes, you are!" she derided. "It's nothing but obstinacy. Make
him stay," she appealed to the outlaw.
"Am I my cousin's keeper?" he drawled. "I can advise him to stay,
but I can't make him."
"Well, I can.
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