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"Is it your wound?" she said quickly.

"No. That's all right. But you musn't tell----"

"I'm telling, to show whether I trust you. Jed and Yorky and Dick

and Slim----"

She stopped to listen. Her father's voice was calling her. She

rose from her seat.

"Wait a moment. There's something I've got to tell you," the

Texan groaned.

"I'll be back in a moment. Dad wants to see me about some

letters."

And with that she was gone. Whatever the business was, it

detained her longer than she expected. The minutes slipped away,

and still she did not return. A step sounded in the hall, a door

opened, and Jed Briscoe stood before him.

"You're here, are you?" he said.

The Texan measured looks with him. "Yes, I'm here."

"Grand-standing still, I reckon."

"If you could only learn to mind your own affairs," the Texan

suggested evenly.

"You'll wish I could before I'm through with you."

"Am I to thank you for that little courtesy from Bald Knob the

other evening?"