Pagina 339 de 439

"Now, don't you, Arlie; don't you. I ain't worth it. Honest, I

ain't. I did what it was up to me to do. Not a thing more. Dick

would have done it. Any of the boys would. Now, let's look at

what you've done for me."

From under the arm a muffled voice insisted she had done nothing

but suspect him.

"Hold on, girl. Play fair. First off you ride sixty miles to help

me when I'm hunted right hard. You bring me to your home in this

valley where strangers ain't over and above welcome just now. You

learn I'm an officer and still you look out for me and fight for

me, till you make friends for me. It's through you I get started

right with the boys. On your say-so they give me the glad hand.

You learn I've lied to you, and two or three hours later you save

my life. You sit there steady, with my haid in your lap, while

some one is plugging away at us. You get me to a house, take care

of my wounds, and hold the fort alone in the night till help

comes. Not only that, but you drive my enemy away. Later, you

bring me home, and nurse me like I was a long-lost brother. What

I did for you ain't in the same class with what you've done for

me."