第7页 / 共439页

The little fist that had struck at his face now bruised itself in

unconscious blows at the bark of the tree. He waited till the

staccato breaths had subsided, then took her by the shoulders and

swung her round.

"You have the floor, ma'am. What does this gun-play business

mean?"

Through the tears her angry eyes flashed starlike.

"I sha'n't tell you," she flamed. "You had no right to--How dared

you insult me as you have?"

"Did I insult you?" he asked, with suave gentleness. "Then if you

feel insulted I expect you lay claim to being a lady. But I

reckon that don't fit in with holding up strangers at the end of

a gun. If I've insulted you I'll ce'tainly apologize, but you'll

have to show me I have. We're in Texas, which is next door but

one to Missouri, ma'am."

"I don't want your apologies. I detest and hate you," she cried,

"That's your privilege, ma'am, and it's mine to know whyfor I'm

held up with a gun when I'm traveling peaceably along the road,"

he answered evenly.

"I'll not tell you."