Marylyn's face had been hidden, to shut out the dread sight of Matthews. Now she lifted it. She said nothing. But as if suddenly smitten by a painful thought, she turned from Dallas to Lounsbury, from Lounsbury to Dallas, questioningly, doubtfully. She drew to one side a few steps, and stood alone.
The movement escaped the others. The storekeeper had slipped from his saddle to pick up Matthews' revolver. And the elder girl, against whom was setting in a tide of reaction, was struggling for composure. She put out a trembling hand for the weapon.
"Got a rifle, too, haven't you?" he asked.
"Good Heavens! I'm glad I didn't know that coming down!"
"I saw the sleigh go by, and was sure something had scared your father about the claim. So I didn't wait to black my boots."
"Oh, it was a comfort to hear you," she said.
"Was it?" eagerly. He stepped toward her; then drew back. "Well,"--with a feeble attempt at humour--"I'd rather be a comfort than a wet blanket." He had remembered that evil eyes were watching; that his least move might subject Lancaster's daughters to the coarse comment of Shanty Town. He dared not even remain out of his saddle. He mounted.
"Oh, you're going to leave us!" exclaimed Marylyn. She began to cry helplessly.
"But I'll be on the lookout every second," he declared. "Miss Dallas,"--he urged his horse up to the window--"don't think I'm idiot enough to try to do up that saloon gang down there single-handed. If I go to Shanty Town, it'll be because I have to. I won't go alone if I can help it. First of all, I intend to see the Colonel over there, and lay this matter before him."
"Got to do it, whether your father likes it or not. We're dealing with a cutthroat. He knows this land's worth money."
"And you can't tell what he'll do." He bent to her. "That scoundrel scared you," he said regretfully. "You're ready to drop. Oh, yes, you are! And it's my fault. I knew he might come any day--that he'd make trouble. But I didn't believe he'd get here so soon, I----"
"Knew what?" asked Marylyn, stopping her tears. Then, certain that there was some awful secret behind it all, and that it was being kept from her, she began to cry again.
"Do you know when Matthews' six months is up?" Lounsbury inquired.