"Smiler! The cussed ol’ bear! He ’s been a-layin’ up all winter like a bear in a hole an’ he ain’t woke up yet. Poetry! an’ Philosophy! an’ some shifty _I_talian named Mac—Mac somethin’ or other. Smiler sets a heap by Mac. Jus’ sits an’ reads an’ hol’s out his han’s an’ says: ’Gimme th’ Double Y, Dave.’ Mus’ think I carry it in m’ hat." "But you will get it, Dave—yes." "You bet yo’ boots I ’ll get it. Peters ’ll be so sick o’ that range afore I ’m done with him he ’ll be glad to quit. But if you get him comin’ here, it ’ll be done quicker." "I will try," murmured Rose. The flush that went with the words was wrongly interpreted by Dave. "That’s you!" he exclaimed, admiringly, and was at her side before she realized it, bending over her in a swift movement that almost caught her by surprise. He laughed easily at his defeat, in no wise discomfited. "Ain’t come kissin’-time yet, eh, Rose?" She looked up coolly, careful not to give way an inch from the nearness of him. Nothing tempts a man so much as a retreat. "_Mais non, m’sieu_. When the day, then the hour—you go too far unless," was her calm warning. "All right. Time enough," he rejoined carelessly. "Guess I ’ll drift back to Twin. Have to see Comin’ an’ keep him on edge, or he ’ll get tired o’ waitin’ for that good thing I promised him. He ain’t a feller as you can ask questions or I ’d cussed quick find out who he is an’ where he come from." Rose stood in the doorway until the sound of his horse’s feet assured her that he was certainly on his way to Twin River. Then she went in, closed the door behind her, darkened the front windows and going to the window at the back called out clearly: "Enter. I want to talk to you, Tex Ewalt." Tex lounged forward a step, bringing himself into view, his face the picture of mischievous amusement. He rested his arms on the sill and smiled at her. "You are a good guesser," he admitted. "Enter," she insisted. "Not the door, no; the window—hurry." He slipped through with the suppleness of a naked Indian and she at once shut out the night at this and the other windows. "We must beware more eaves-droppers," she explained. She motioned to a bench and seated herself near him, looking at him intently. "I think you kill Fritz’ father that night," she began. "I am sorry." Tex bowed, as if such unjust suspicions were his daily portion, and waited. "You are M’sieu Peters’ friend?" she questioned. Tex carefully poked two depressions in the crown of his hat and carefully poked them out again, thinking swiftly. "Yes," he replied, meeting her eyes again. "You are Tex Ewalt. Dave call you Comin’. M’sieu Peters not know you are here. You spy for M’sieu Peters, yes?" "Buck told you, eh? Did you tell him I was in Twin River?" She shook her head. "But no. I guess, when I see you at the window." Tex looked incredulous. "How did you guess?" he asked.