He paused and looked at her, for her eyes were shining and her lips were pursed in a way that left no doubt of the invitation.

“Why, Mary!” he said, as he caught her in his arms.

For a time the money lay on the table unnoticed and forgotten, and there was an eloquent silence in the kitchen.

A little later, Barney Owen, passing close to the kitchen window—­having seen the men caring for Sanderson’s horse, and learning from them that Sanderson had come in early after having apparently been out all night—­heard Sanderson’s voice issuing from the kitchen: 

“There’s a difference in kisses; them that you gave me when you thought I was your brother wasn’t half so thrillin’ as——­”

Owen stiffened and stood rigid, his face whitening.

And then again he heard Sanderson’s voice: 

“There’s a judge in Okar—­Judge Graney.  An’ if you’d consider gettin’ married today, ma’am, why——­”

“Why, Sanderson!” came Mary’s voice in mild reproof.

“Well, then,” sounded Sanderson’s voice, full of resignation this time; “have it your way; I don’t want to hurry you.”

“Hurry me?  Oh, no!” laughed the girl in gentle mockery.  Whereat they both laughed.  The sound of it must have pleased Owen, for he, too, laughed as he left the window and went toward the bunkhouse.

An hour later Sanderson emerged from the house, threw saddle and bridle on Streak, and rode out into the basin to a camp where he found Kent Williams and his men.  He gave the engineer the package of bills he had taken from the table.

“Here is ten thousand dollars,” he said.  “You take your men, ride over to Lazette, get your supplies, an’ hustle them right back here.  It ain’t likely there’ll be any more trouble, but we ain’t takin’ any chances.  My men ain’t got any more cattle to bother with, an’ they’ll go with you an’ your men to Lazette, an’ come back with the wagons to see that they ain’t interfered with.  Start as soon as you can get ready.”

“Within an hour the engineer, his men, and the men of the Double A outfit were on the move.  Barney Owen did not go.  He sat on one of the top rails of the corral fence, alternately watching the men of the outfit as they faded into the vast space toward Lazette, and Mary Bransford and Sanderson, as they stood on the porch, close together, likewise watching the men.

“I’d say—­if anyone was to ask me—­that there is a brother who seems to have been forgotten,” said Owen with a curious smile.

CHAPTER XXV

A MAN IS AROUSED

The coming of the dawn and the comforting contact with other human beings, brought Banker Maison relief from the terrifying fear that had gripped him during the night.  He became almost courageous after breakfast, and began to think that perhaps he had yielded too readily to Sanderson’s demands.