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His smoldering eyes burned with desire to snatch her to him and ride
away into the hills。 For he was a man who lived in his sensations。 He had
won many women to their hurt； but it was the joy of conflict that made the
pursuit worth while to him； and this young woman； who could so
delightfully bubble with little laughs ready to spill over and was yet
possessed of a spirit so finely superior to the tenderness of her soft； round；
maidenly curves； allured him mightily to the attack。
She dropped the revolver back into the bag and shut the clasp with a
click； 〃And now I think； Mr。 Bannister； that I'll not detain you any longer。
We understand each other sufficiently。〃
He rose with a laugh that mocked。 〃I expaict to spend quite a bit of
time understanding y'u one of these days。 In the meantime this is to our
better acquaintance。〃
Deliberately； without the least haste； he stooped and kissed her before
she could rally from the staggering surprise of the intention she read in his
eyes too late to elude。 Then； with the coolest bravado in the world； he
turned on his heel and strolled away。
Angry sapphires gleamed at him from under the long； brown lashes。
She was furious； aghast； daunted。 By the merest chance she was sitting in
a corner of the box； so screened from observation that none could see。 But
the insolence of him； the reckless defiance of all standards of society；
shook her even while it enraged her。 He had put forth his claim like a
braggart； but he had made good with an audacity superb in its effrontery。
How she hated him！ How she feared him！ The thoughts were woven
inseparably in her mind。 Mephisto himself could not have impressed
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himself more imperatively than this strutting； heartless master artist in
vice。
She saw him again presently down in the arena； for it was his turn to
show his skill at roping。 Texas had done well； very well； indeed。 He had
made the throw and tie in thirty…seven seconds； which was two seconds
faster than the record of the previous year。 But she knew instinctively； as
her fascinated eyes watched the outlaw preparing for the feat； that he was
going to win。 He would use his success as a weapon against her； as a
means of showing her that he always succeeded in whatever he undertook。
So she interpreted he look he flung her as he waited at the chute for the
wild hill steer to be driven into the arena。 It takes a good man physically to
make a successful roper。 He must be possessed of nerve； skill and
endurance far out of the ordinary。 He must be quick…eyed； strong…handed；
nimble of foot； expert of hand and built like a wildcat。 So Denver
explained to the two young women in the box； and the one behind him
admitted reluctantly that she long； lean； supple Centaur waiting
impassively at the gateway fitted the specifications。
Out flashed the rough…coated hill steer； wild and fleet as a hare； thin
and leggy； with muscles of whipcord。 Down went the flag； and the
stopwatches began to tick off the seconds。 Like an arrow the outlaw's pony
shot forward； a lariat circling round and round the rider's head。 At every
leap the cow pony lessened the gap as it pounded forward on the heels of
the flying steer。
The loop swept forward and dropped over the horns of the animal。 The
pony； with the perfect craft of long practice； swerved to one side with a
rush。 The dragging rope swung up against the running steer's legs； grew
suddenly taut。 Down went the steer's head； and next moment its feet were
swept from under it as it went heavily to the ground。 Man and horse were
perfect in their team work。 As the supple rider slid from the back of the
pony it ran to the end of the rope and braced itself to keep the animal from
rising。 Bannister leaped on the steer； tie…rope in hand。 Swiftly his deft
hands passed to and fro； making the necessary loops and knots。 Then his
hands went into the air。 The steer was hog…tied。
For a few seconds the judges consulted together。 〃Twenty…nine
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seconds；〃 announced their spokesman； and at the words a great cheer went
up。 Bannister had made his tie in record time。
Impudently the scoundrel sauntered up to the grand stand； bowed
elaborately to Miss Messiter； and perched himself on the fence； where he
might be the observed of all observers。 It was curious； she thought； how
his vanity walked hand in hand with so much power and force。 He was
really extraordinarily strong； but no debutante's self…sufficiency could
have excelled his。 He was so frankly an egotist that it ceased to be a
weakness。
Back in her room at the hotel an hour later Helen paced up and down
under a nervous strain foreign to her temperament。 She was afraid； for the
first time in her life definitely afraid。 This man pitted against her had
deliberately divorced his life from morality。 In him lay no appeal to any
conscience court of last resort。 But the terror of this was not for herself
principally； but for her flying lover。 With his indubitable power； backed by
the unpopularity of the sheepman in this cattle country； the King of the
Bighorn could destroy his cousin if he set himself to do so。 Of this she was
convinced； and her conviction carried a certainty that he had the will as
well as the means。 If he had lacked anything in motive she herself had
supplied one。 For she was afraid that this villain had read her heart。
And as her hand went fluttering to her heart she found small comfort
in the paper lying next it that only a few hours before had brought her joy。
For at any moment a messenger might come in to tell her that the writer of
it had been captured and was to be dealt with summarily in frontier
fashion。 At best her lover and her friend were but fugitives from justice。
Against them were arrayed not only the ruffian followers of their enemy；
but also the lawfully constituted authorities of the county。 Even if they
should escape to…day the net would tighten on them； and they would
eventually be captured。
For the third time since coming to Wyoming Helen found refuge in
tears。
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CHAPTER 17。 RUN TO EARTH
When word came to Denver and the other punchers of the Lazy D that
Reddy had been pressed into service as a guide for the posse that was
pursuing the fugitives they gave vent to their feelings in choice profanity。
〃Now； ain't that like him？ Had to run around like a locoed calf telling
all he knowed and more till Burns ropes him in；〃 commented the disgusted
Missou。
〃Trouble with Reddy is he sets his mouth to working and then goes
away and leaves it；〃 mourned Jim Henson。
〃I'd hate to feel as sore as Reddy will when the boys get through
playing with him after he gets back to the ranch；〃 Denver contributed；
when he had exhausted his vocabulary。
Meanwhile Reddy； unaware of being a cause of offense； was
cheerfully happy in the unexpected honor that had been thrust upon him。
His will was of putty； molded into the opinion of whomever he happened
at the moment to be with。 Just now； with the ironic eye of Sheriff Burns
upon him； he was strong for law enforcement。
〃A feller hadn't ought to be so promiscuous with his hardware。 This
here thing of shooting up citizens don't do Wyoming no good these days。
Capital ain't a…going to come in when such goings…on occur；〃 he sagely
opined； unconsciously parroting the sentiment Burns had just been
instilling into him。
〃That's right； sir。 If that ain't horse sense I don't know any。 You got a
head on you； all right；〃 answered the admiring sheriff。
The flattered Reddy pleaded guilty