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"Sho! Of course it's necessary. Think I'm going to buy a hawss

I've never seen?" he asked, with deep innocence.

"I'll bring it here."

"In Texas, ma'am, we wait on the ladies. Still, it's your say-so

when you're behind that big gun."

He said it laughing, and she threw the weapon angrily into the

seat of the rig.

"Thank you, ma'am. I'll amble down and see what's behind the

hill."

By the flinch in her eyes he tested his center shot and knew it

true. Her breast was rising and falling tumultuously. A shiver

ran through her.

"No--no. I'm not hiding--anything," she gasped.

"Then if you're not you can't object to my going there."