The fellow began to whine thanks, but the man above would have none of them, “I’m giving you this chance for your sister’s sake.  You won’t make anything of it.  You’re born for meanness and deviltry.  I know your kind from El Paso to Dawson.  But she’s game and she’s white clear through, even if she is your sister and a plumb little fool.  Can you walk to the road?” he ended abruptly.

“I think so.  It’s in my ankle.  Some hell-hound gave it me while we were getting over the wall,” the fellow growled.

“Don’t blame him.  His intentions were good.  He meant to blow out your brains.”

The convict cursed vilely, but in the midst of his impotent rage the other stopped and dragged him to his feet.

“That’s enough.  You padlock that ugly mouth and light a shuck.”

The girl came forward and the man leaned heavily on her as he limped to the road.  The Texan followed with the buckskin she had been riding and tied it to the back of the road-wagon.

“Give me my purse,” the girl said to the convict after they were seated.

She emptied it and handed the roll of bills it contained to the owner of the team.  He looked at it and at her, then shook his head.

“You’ll need it likely.  I reckon I can trust you.  Schoolmarms are mostly reliable.”

“I had rather pay now,” she answered tartly.

“What’s the rush?”

“I prefer to settle with you now.”

“All right, but I’m in no sweat for my money.  My team and the wagon are worth two hundred and fifty dollars.  Put this plug at forty and it would be high.”  He jerked his head toward the brush where the other saddle-horse was.  “That leaves me a balance of about two hundred and ten.  Is that fair?”

She bit her lip in vexation.  “I expect so, but I haven’t that much with me.  Can’t I pay this seventy on account?”

“No, ma’am, you can’t.  All or none.”  There was a gleam of humor in his hard eyes.  “I reckon you better let me come and collect after you get back to Fort Lincoln.”

She took out a note-book and pencil.  “If you will give me your name and address please.”

He smiled hardily at her.  “I’ve clean forgotten them.”

There was a warning flash in her disdainful eye.

“Just as you like.  My name is Margaret Kinney.  I will leave the money for you at the First National Bank.”

She gathered up the rains deftly.

“One moment.”  He laid a hand on the lines.  “I reckon you think I owe you an apology for what happened when we first met.”

A flood of spreading color dyed her cheeks.  “I don’t think anything about it.”

“Oh, yes, you do,” he contradicted.  “And you’re going to think a heap more about it.  You’re going to lay awake nights going over it.”

Out of eyes like live coals she gave him one look.  “Will you take your hands from these reins please?”

“Presently.  Just now I’m talking and you’re listening.”