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"Yes, you ce'tainly must need the team. Now I wonder why? Well,

I'd hate to refuse a lady anything she wants as bad as you do

that." He swiftly swooped down and caught up her revolver from

the ground, tossed it into the air so as to shift his hold from

butt to barrel, and handed it to her with a bow. "Allow me to

return the pop-gun you dropped, ma'am."

She snatched it from him and leveled it at him so that it almost

touched his forehead. He looked at her and laughed in delighted

mockery.

"All serene, ma'am. You've got me dead to rights again."

His very nonchalance disarmed her. What could she do while his

low laughter mocked her?

"When you've gone through me complete I think I'll take a little

pasear over the hill and have a look at your hawss. Mebbe we

might still do business."

As he had anticipated, his suggestion filled her with alarm. She

flew to bar the way.

"You can't go. It isn't necessary."