“Let him keep away from my machine!  And drop my wrist!” Charlie Menocal snarled.

“And you leave him alone hereafter, in any case,” Lee warned, shoving the speaker away in disgust.  Then he helped Dave to rise.

Charlie straightened his disarranged tie and coat with trembling fingers.  He could scarcely retain his rage; his body shook all over; his foot slipped twice when he sought to mount into his car.  Leaning forward from his seat, he shook a finger in Bryant’s face, exclaiming, “You’ll get what’s coming to you!  Like your damned dog!” His face was entirely viperish.  His finger came within an inch of the engineer’s nose.  His words carried a furious hiss.

Then he whirled his car about and went tearing down the lane with exhaust wide open and roaring.

When Bryant, leading Dave, rejoined Louise Graham, a flush of embarrassment dyed his face.  She had sprung up at Menocal’s blow knocking the boy over and remained standing, an indignant observer of the scene.  When Menocal had departed, the engineer recalled suddenly what Ruth had said concerning Charlie and Louise Graham being practically engaged; and as he now saw her rigid figure and displeased countenance, he imagined he had lost her friendship.  Still, he could not have acted otherwise.

“I’m very sorry for this occurrence, Miss Graham,” he said, contritely.  “Especially as I understand Charlie Menocal is very high in your esteem.”

“Who dares say that!”

“Well, Charlie himself is the authority, I believe,” Lee responded, with a slight smile.

Her eyes flashed at that.

“Well, it’s not the case; and if it had been, this exhibition of bad manners and bad nature on his part would have changed it.  Father and I consider him—­well, a nuisance.  There, I’m giving you a confidence.  We’ve tolerated him because Mr. Menocal senior is a gentleman, and a friend.  Now I hope you’ll not think me too talkative, but an explanation was necessary; and as far as Charlie Menocal is concerned, I’d be pleased if I never saw his face again.  To knock your young friend over so heartlessly!  You treated him with altogether too much leniency, Mr. Bryant.”

“I never do my fighting in the presence of ladies,” Lee remarked, with a grin.  “In fact, I try to confine my combats to those of wits.”

She nodded.

“Of course,” said she; and continued, “this is the second time he has acted disgracefully to you when I’ve been by.  The first occasion was at Perro Creek ford.  I could have sunk into the earth for shame of him when he knew no better than to fling you money after you had filled his radiator; it was pure insolence, to begin with, to ask you to do it when he should have attended to the matter himself.  I admired your conduct and self-control under the circumstances, Mr. Bryant.”  And addressing Dave, she asked, “Will you drink another glass of buttermilk if I pour it?”