“I don’t think much of your friends,” remarked Florrie, sensing sudden opposition and flying half-way to meet it.

Elmer Page produced a very new, unsullied pipe from his pocket and filled it with an air, while Virginia looked on curiously.  Having done so and having drawn up one trouser’s leg to save the crease, crossed the leg and at last put the pipe stem into his mouth, he regarded Florrie from the cool and serene height of his superior age.

“If you refer to Mr. Rickard,” he said aloofly, “I may say that he is not a friend . . . yet.  I just met him this afternoon.  But, although he hasn’t had the social advantages, perhaps, still he is a man of parts.”

Florrie sniffed and tossed her head.  Virginia bit her lips and watched them.

“Been smoking too many cigs, I guess, Sis,” Elmer remarked apropos of the initial observation of Miss Engle which still rankled.  “Got a regular cigarette fiend’s cough.  Gave ’em up.  Hitting the pipe now.”

“If you knew,” said Florrie spitefully, “that Mr. Rickard as you call him had just murdered a man yesterday, what would you say then, I wonder?”

There was a sparkle of excitement in Elmer’s eyes as he swung about to answer.

“Murdered!” he challenged.  “You’ve heard just one side of it, of course.  Bisbee got drunk and insulted Mr. Rickard.  They call him the Kid, you know.  Say, Sis, he’s had a life for you!  Full of adventure, all kinds of sport.  And Bisbee shot first, too.  But the Kid got him!” he concluded triumphantly.  “Galloway told me all about it . . . and what a blundering rummy the fool sheriff is.”

“Galloway?” queried Virginia uneasily.  “You know him too, already?”

“Sure,” replied Elmer.  “He’s a good sort, too, You’ll like him.  I asked him around.”

“For goodness’ sake, Elmer, when did you get to San Juan?  Have you been here a week or just a few hours?”

“Got in on the stage at noon, of course.  But it doesn’t take a man all year to get acquainted in a town this size.”

“A man!” giggled Florrie.

“I can see,” laughed Virginia, “that you two are going to be more kin than kind to each other; you’ll be quarrelling in another moment.”

Florrie looked delighted at the prospect; Elmer yawned and brooded over his pipe.  But out of the tail of his eye he took stock again of her blonde prettiness, and she, ready from the beginning to make fun of him, repeated to herself the words she had used to Virginia: 

“But he is handsome . . . and distinguished looking!”

CHAPTER X

A BRIBE AND A THREAT