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He spoke softly as if to himself. "That's too bad. I kinder hate

to take her to jail, but I reckon I must."

She shrank back, aghast and white.

"No, no! You don't understand. I didn't mean to--I only

wanted--Why, I meant to pay you for the team."

"I'll understand when you tell me," he said placidly.

"I've told you. I needed the team. I was going to let you have

one of our horses and seventy-five dollars. It's all I have with

me."

"One of your horses, you say? With seventy-five dollars to boot?

And you was intending to arrange the trade from behind that gun.

I expect you needed a team right bad."

His steady eyes rested on her, searched her, appraised her, while

he meditated aloud in a low easy drawl.