“No, I won’t!  Go to it!” whispered Douglas.

Nor did he, for as Peter, with a piece of stove-pipe wire he had boiled as a probe, began his very thorough process of sterilization, Douglas quietly fainted.  When he came to his senses, his shoulder was bandaged and Judith was pulling an old shirt of Peter’s over his head.

“Now, Judith, make a fresh pot of coffee and drink some of it,” said Peter.  “You are as white as a sheet.  How are you, Doug, my boy?”

“Fine!  Peter, you get me drunk.  I’m going after Scott to-night.”

“Let’s have the story.”  Peter’s lips were grim, “You begin, Judith.”

Judith set the coffee-pot on the red-hot stove and perched on the edge of the bed.  She was wearing a middy blouse of dull blue.  It was small for her and showed her fine shoulder and full-muscled throat and chest.  She drew a deep breath and began at once.

“I was riding past Inez’ place with Scott.  He teased me to go in for a dance.  When I wouldn’t go, he asked me if I was sore at Inez because Douglas spent half his time there with her.  Doug must have been behind his horse.  He came out like a crazy man, called Scott a liar and told him to come down and fight, and hit him.  Scott drew on him and shot him.  Then he rode away like mad, and Doug after him.  I followed and caught Doug part way up the Pass and brought him here.”

Judith paused and Peter turned to Douglas.  “All correct, Doug?”

But the young rider was staring at Judith.  “Did you believe Scott, Judith?” he demanded.

“How do I know what you’ve been up to?  You were there to-night.”

“I hadn’t seen Inez.  I haven’t been near her place since I made you a promise, once.  I went over to-night because I was discouraged.  I’d made up my mind that there wasn’t anything real about anybody.  Even Charleton isn’t real.  Now, Peter, you give me a quart of whiskey and help me onto the Moose.  I’ll—­”

“You’ll calm down, that’s what you’ll do,” said Judith succinctly.  “Won’t he, Peter?  When Scott finds he hasn’t killed you, he’ll be back and then you can settle with him.  Peter, you telephone my mother I’m going to stay down here for a while and take care of Doug.”

Peter hesitated.  “I don’t need you, Jude, though of course, it’ll be pleasant to have you here.”

“It’s just as well you feel that way,” said Judith, “because I intend to stay, anyhow.”

Douglas blinked round eyed at Judith, then smiled seraphically and closed his eyes.  He was asleep before Peter had succeeded in getting Mrs. Spencer on the telephone.  All Lost Chief was on a party line and he carried on his conversation not without difficulty.  Judith sat listening with a broad grin of appreciation.