Pagina 214 van 439

"I didn't know. I hadn't time to think. So I let fly. But I was

so excited I likely missed you a mile."

He took off his felt hat and examined with interest a bullet hole

through the rim. "If it was a mile, I'd hate to have you miss me

a hundred yards," he commented, with a little ripple of laughter.

"I didn't! Did I? As near as that?" She caught her hands together

in a sudden anguish for what might have been.

"Don't you care, ma'am. A miss is as good as a mile. It ain't the

first time I've had my hat ventilated. I mentioned it, so you

wouldn't get discouraged at your shooting. It's plenty good. Good

enough to suit me. I wouldn't want it any better."

"What about the man I wounded." she asked apprehensively. "Is

he--is it all right?"

"Haven't you heard?"

"Heard what?" He could see the terror in her eyes.

"How it all came out?"