Inez’ lip twitched.  She looked from one man to the other, finally focussing on Peter.

“Did I?” she asked.

“Yes, you did,” he answered.  “You’ve got to lay the blame finally on the women.  Otherwise civilization would cease.”

“Oh, forget it!” growled Scott.  “What are you dragging Inez in on this for?  She’s always been a good friend to you, Peter.”

“I like Inez,” said Peter slowly, “but no one is a good friend of mine who is bucking against Douglas in this stunt he’s at himself.  Douglas is easily the coming man of this valley and if I’m not mistaken, of this State, and I’m back of him, boots, spurs and saddle.”

Douglas flushed and twisted uneasily in his chair.

Scott sneered, inaudibly.  Inez stared at Douglas, nostrils quivering slightly.  “I’ve always admired Doug,” she spoke coolly, “but it wasn’t playing the game for him to let the preacher attack me and I’ll never forgive him for it.”

“I’ll never ask you to!” exclaimed Douglas cheerfully.  “And I’m not going to start a debate with you.  I know that Charleton and Scott put over this deal and that you knew about it.”

“I’m going to make just one statement.”  Inez was looking again at Peter.  “I think whoever set fire to your place, Douglas, was a fool and a crook.”

Scott buttoned up his mackinaw.  “Well, I’ll be riding.  I’m a long way from home.”

Douglas stretched his right arm along the table.  His six-shooter was in his hand.  “Don’t hurry away, old-timer!  I want to talk to you.”

Scott stood rigidly, a forefinger in a buttonhole.  “Don’t get funny, Doug.  This ain’t a sheep-herder’s war.”

“No, it’s more serious than that,” agreed Douglas.  “You don’t get the idea, Scott.  You can’t run the preacher out of the Valley, because I shall keep bringing him back.  You can’t burn down my chapel, because I shall keep building it up.  Now, you tell me what you know about this man, because I don’t calculate to let you eat, drink, or sleep until you do tell.”

“You must think I’m a tenderfoot!  Inez, you open that door into the yard.”

“Peter, you engage Inez’ attention, will you?” asked Douglas in his gentle voice.  “Now then, Scott, where is Fowler?”

Peter moved his chair over beside Inez.  Scott made a wry face.

“I ain’t his herder.  That’s your job.  But you’ve sure lost him on the range, Doug.  A religious round-up ain’t what you thought it was, huh?”

“Just keep both hands in the buttonholes.  That’s right, Scott.  Now when you get ready to tell daddy all your little sins, speak right up.”

“Look here, Doug, don’t you start any shooting in my house.  I never have had any trouble here and I’m not going to begin now.  You’ll never get anything out of Scott, this way.  You let him go.”

Peter took Inez’ hand.  “My dear girl, you’d better keep out of this.  Douglas is a right nervous rider, to-night.”