He managed to smile, although the words were poison to him.  He had loved her as long as he could remember, and sooner or later she would be his wife, but the period remained indefinitely in the future as the whims of the girl changed.  It was for that reason, as Hal very well knew, that her father became furious when she smiled at another man.  The rich marriage was his goal; and when a second man stepped onto the stage, old Jack Hood was ready to fight.  Hal saw a way of stopping her gibes and proving his good intentions toward Hunter all in a breath.

“He saved my life, Mary.  I lost a stirrup, and the devil of a horse threw me.”

Briefly he sketched in the story of the rescue, and how Bull Hunter afterward had ridden the horse without spurs, without a bridle.  Before he ended her eyes were shining.

“That’s what he meant when he said he hadn’t beaten Diablo.  I understand now.  At the time I thought he was a little simple, Hal.”

“He’s not exceptionally clever, Mary,” said Hal, “and that’s where the point comes in of what I want you to do.  Hunter is apt to take a fancy that he isn’t wanted here—­that he’s being kept out of charity because he saved my life.  Nothing I can say will convince him.  I want you to give him a better reason for staying around.  Will you do it—­as a great favor?”

She dropped her chin into her hand and studied him.

“Just what are you driving at, Hal?”

“You know what I mean well enough.  I want you to waste a smile or two on him, Mary.  Will you do that?  Make him think you like him a good deal, that you’re glad to have him around.  Will you?  Take him out for a walk this afternoon and get him to tell you the story of his life.  You can always make a man talk and generally you turn them into fools.  You’ve done it with me, often enough,” he added gloomily.

“Flirt with that big, quiet fellow?” she said gravely.  “Hal, you’re criminal.  Besides, you know that I don’t flirt.  It’s just the opposite.  When I like a man I’m simply frank about it.”

“But you have a way of being frank so that a poor devil usually thinks you want to marry him, and then there’s the devil to pay.  You know it perfectly well.”

“That’s not true, Hal!”

“I won’t argue.  But will you do it?”

“Absolutely not!”

“It might be quite a game.  He may not be altogether a fool.  And suppose he were to wake up?  Suppose he’s simply half-asleep?”

He saw a gleam of excitement come in her eyes and wisely left her without another word.  After things had reached a certain point Mary could be generally trusted to carry the action on.

CHAPTER 20

Jack Hood had ridden out on his rounds with a new horse that morning, and the new horse developed the gait of a plow horse.  The result was that grim old Jack reached the house that night with a body racked by the labor of the day and a disposition poisoned for the entire evening.  He was met at the stable by Riley, and the sight of him brought a spark for the moment into the eye of the foreman.