“And what do you expect?”

“I expect that you will send for her and tell her that she is free to go down with me—­leave this house—­and take a ride or a walk with me.”

“As much as that?  If you have to talk to her, why not do the talking here?”

“I dunno,” replied Ronicky Doone.  “I figure she’d think too much about you all the time.”

“The basilisk, eh?” asked John Mark.  “Well, you are going to persuade her to go to Bill Gregg?”

“You know the name, eh?”

“Yes, I have a curious stock of useless information.”

“Well, you’re right; I’m going to try to get her back for Bill.”

“But you can’t expect me to assent to that?”

“I sure do.”

“And why?  This Caroline Smith may be a person of great value to me.”

“I have no doubt she is, but I got a good argument.”

“What is it?”

“The gun, partner.”

“And, if you couldn’t get the girl—­but see how absurd the whole thing is, Ronicky Doone!  I send for the girl; I request her to go down with you to the street and take a walk, because you wish to talk to her.  Heavens, man, I can’t persuade her to go with a stranger at night!  Surely you see that!”

“I’ll do that persuading,” said Ronicky Doone calmly.

“And, when you’re on the streets with the girl, do you suppose I’ll rest idle and let you walk away with her?”

“Once we’re outside of the house, Mark,” said Ronicky Doone, “I don’t ask no favors.  Let your men come on.  All I got to say is that I come from a county where every man wears a gun and has to learn how to use it.  I ain’t terrible backward with the trigger finger, John Mark.  Not that I figure on bragging, but I want you to pick good men for my trail and tell ’em to step soft.  Is that square?”

“Aside from certain idiosyncrasies, such as your manner of paying a call by way of a cellar window, I think you are the soul of honor, Ronicky Doone.  Now may I sit down?”

“Suppose we shake hands to bind the bargain,” said Ronicky.  “You send for Caroline Smith; I’m to do the persuading to get her out of the house.  We’re safe to the doors of the house; the minute we step into the street, you’re free to do anything you want to get either of us.  Will you shake on that?”

For a moment the leader hesitated, then his fingers closed over the extended hand of Ronicky Doone and clamped down on them like so many steel wires contracting.  At the same time a flush of excitement and fierceness passed over the face of John Mark.  Ronicky Doone, taken utterly by surprise, was at a great disadvantage.  Then he put the whole power of his own hand into the grip, and it was like iron meeting iron.  A great rage came in the eyes of John Mark; a great wonder came in the eyes of the Westerner.  Where did John Mark get his sudden strength?

“Well,” said Ronicky, “we’ve shaken hands, and now you can do what you please!  Sit down, leave the room—­anything.”  He shoved his gun away in his clothes.  That brought a start from John Mark and a flash of eagerness, but he repressed the idea, after a single glance at the girl.