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with villainy unadulterated。
It was characteristic even of her impulsiveness that Helen Messiter
curbed the swift condemnation that leaped to her lips when she knew that
the man sitting beside her was the notorious bandit of the Shoshone
fastnesses。 She was not in the least afraid。 A sure instinct told her he was
not the kind of a man of whom a woman need have fear so long as her
own anchor held fast。 In good time she meant to let him have her
unvarnished opinion of him； but she did not mean it to be an unconsidered
one。 Wherefore she drove the machine forward toward the camelbacked
peak he had indicated； her eyes straight before her； a frown corrugating
her forehead。
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For him； having made his dramatic announcement； he seemed content
for the present with silence。 He leaned back in the car and appreciated her
with a coolness that just missed impudence。 Certainly her appearance
proclaimed her very much worth while。 To dwell on the long lines of her
supple young body； the exquisite throat and chin curve； was a pleasure
with a thrill to it。 As a physical creation； a mere innocent young animal； he
thought her perfect； attuned to a fine harmony of grace and color。 But it
was the animating vitality of her； the lightness of motion； the fire and
sparkle of expression that gave her the captivating charm she possessed。
They were two miles nearer the camel…backed peak before he broke
the silence。
〃Beats a bronco for getting over the ground。 Think I'll have to get
one；〃 he mused aloud。
〃With the money you took from the Ayr bank？〃 she flashed。
〃I might drive off some of your cows and sell them；〃 he countered；
promptly。 〃About how much will they hold me up for a machine like
this？〃
〃This is only a runabout。 You can get one for twelve or fourteen
hundred dollars of anybody's money。〃
〃Of yours？〃 he laughed。
〃I haven't that much with me。 If you'll come over and hold up the
ranch perhaps we might raise it among us；〃 she jeered。
His mirth was genuine。 〃But right now I couldn't get more than how
much off y'u？〃
〃Sixty…three dollars is all I have with me； and I couldn't give you
moreNOT EVEN IF YOU PUT RED HOT IRONS BETWEEN MY
FINGERS。〃 She gave it to him straight； her blue eyes fixed steadily on
him。
Yet she was not prepared for the effect of her words。 The last thing she
had expected was to see the blood wash out of his bronzed face； to see his
sensitive nostrils twitch with pain。 He made her feel as if she had insulted
him； as if she had been needlessly cruel。 And because of it she hardened
her heart。 Why should she spare him the mention of it？ He had not
hesitated at the shameless deed itself。 Why should she shrink before that
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wounded look that leaped to his fine eyes in that flash of time before he
hardened them to steel？
〃You did itdidn't you？〃 she demanded。
〃That's what they say。〃 His gaze met her defiantly。
〃And it is true； isn't it？〃
〃Oh； anything is true of a man that herds sheep；〃 he returned； bitterly。
〃If that is true it would not be possible for you to understand how
much I despise you。〃
〃Thank you；〃 he retorted； ironically。
〃I don't understand at all。 I don't see how you can be the man they say
you are。 Before I met you it was easy to understand。 But somehowI don't
knowyou don't LOOK like a villain。〃 She found herself strangely
voicing the deep hope of her heart。 It was surely impossible to look at him
and believe him guilty of the things of which； he was accused。 And yet he
offered no denial； suggested no defense。
Her troubled eyes went over his thin； sunbaked face with its touch； of
bitterness； and she did not find it possible to dismiss the subject without
giving him a chance to set himself right。
〃You can't be as bad as they say。 You are not； are you？〃 she asked；
naively。
〃What do y'u think？〃 he responded； coolly。
She flushed angrily at what she accepted as his insolence。 〃A man of
any decency would have jumped at the chance to explain。〃
〃But if there is nothing to explain？〃
〃You are then guilty。〃
Their eyes met； and neither of them quailed。
〃If I pleaded not guilty would y'u believe me？〃
She hesitated。 〃I don't know。 How could I when it is known by
everybody？ And yet〃
He smiled。 〃Why should I trouble y'u； then； with explanations？ I
reckon we'll let it go at guilty。〃
〃Is that all you can say for yourself？〃
He seemed to hang in doubt an instant； then shook his head and
refused the opening。
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〃I expect if we changed the subject I could say a good deal for y'u；〃 he
drawled。 〃I never saw anything pluckier than the way y'u flew down from
the mesa and conducted the cutting…out expedition。 Y'u sure drilled
through your punchers like a streak of lightning。〃
〃I didn't know who you were；〃 she explained； proudly。
〃Would it have made any difference if y'u had？〃
Again the angry flush touched her cheeks。 〃Not a bit。 I would have
saved you in order to have you properly hanged later；〃 she cut back
promptly。
He shook his head gayly。 〃I'm ce'tainly going to disappoint y'u some。
Your enterprising punchers may collect me yet； but not alive； I reckon。〃
〃I'll give them strict orders to bring you in alive。〃
〃Did you ever want the moon when y'u was a little kid？〃 he asked。
〃We'll see； Mr。 Outlaw Bannister。〃
He laughed softly； in the quiet； indolent fashion that would have been
pleasant if it had not been at her。 〃It's right kind of you to take so much
interest in me。 I'd most be willing to oblige by letting your boys rope me
to renew this acquaintance； ma'am。〃 Then； 〃I get out here Miss Messiter；
he added。
She stopped on the instant。 Plainly she could not get rid of him too
soon。 〃Haven't you forgot one thing？〃 she asked； ironically。
〃Yes； ma'am。 To thank you proper for what y'u did for me。〃 He limped
gingerly down from the car and stood with his hand on one of the tires。 〃I
have been trying to think how to say it right； but I guess I'll have to give it
up。 All is that if I ever get a chance to even the score〃
She waved his thanks aside impatiently 〃I didn't mean that。 You have
forgotten to take my purse。
His gravity was broken on the instant； and his laughter was certainly
delightfully fresh。 〃I clean forgot； but I expect I'll drop over to the ranch
for it some day。〃
〃We'll try to make to make you welcome； Mr。 Bannister。〃
〃Don't put yourself out at all。 I'll take pot…luck when I come。〃
〃How many of you may we expect？〃 she asked； defiantly。
〃Oh； I allow to come alone。〃
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〃You'll very likely forget。〃
〃No； ma'am； I don't know so many ladies that I'm liable to such an
oversight。
〃I have heard a different story。 But if you do remember to come； and
will let us know when you expect to honor the Lazy D； I'll have
messengers sent to meet you。〃
He perfectly understood her to mean leaden ones； and the humorous
gleam in his eye sparkled in appreciation of her spirit。 〃I don't want all that
fuss made over me。 I reckon I'll drop in unexpected；〃 he said。
She nodded curtly。 〃Good…bye。 Hope your ankle won't trouble you
very much。〃
〃Thank y'u； ma'am。 I reckon it won't。 Good…bye； Miss Messiter。〃
Out of the tail of her eye she saw him bowing like an Italian opera
singer； as impudently insouciant； as gracefully graceless as any stage
villain in her memory。 Once again she saw him； when her machine swept
round a curve and