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The big cow man laughed. "Oh, cut it out, Steve. Jed don't have

to O. K. my guest list. Not on yore life. I'm about ready for a

ruction with that young man, anyway. He's too blamed bossy. I

ain't wearing his brand. Fact is, I been having notions this

valley has been suffering from too much Briscoe. Others are

sharing that opinion with me. Ask Dick France. Ask Arlie, for

that matter."

"I'm afraid I'm off that young lady's list of friends."

"Sho! She'll come round. She's some hot-haided. It always was her

way to get mad first, and find out why afterward. But don't make

any mistake about her, Steve. She's the salt of the earth, Arlie

Dillon is. She figured it out you wasn't playing it quite on the

square with her. Onct she's milled it around a spell, she'll see

things different. I've knowed her since she was knee-high, and I

tell you she's a game little thoroughbred."

The Texan looked at him a moment, then stared out of the window.