"And I've made her believe that he sent for me," she went on, her voice leaping to cold savagery. "I stayed all night at his place, and I went back to the Bar B in the morning--this morning--and made Rosalind Benham think--Ha, ha! She ordered me away from the house--the hussy! She's through with him--any fool could tell that. But it's different with him, Jeff. He won't give her up; he isn't that kind. He'll fight for her--and he'll have her!" The eager, pleased light died out of Corrigan's face, his lips set in an ugly pout. But he contrived to smile as he got up. "You've done well--so far. But don't give him up. Maybe he'll change his mind. Stay here--I'll stake you to the limit." He laid a roll of bills on a stand--she did not look at them--and approached her in a second endeavor to console her. But she waved him away, saying: "Get out of here--I want to think!" And he obeyed, looking back before he closed the door. "Selfish?" he muttered, going down the street. "Well, what of it? That's a human weakness, isn't it? Get what you want, and to hell with other people!" * * * * * Trevison had gone to his room for a much-needed rest. He had watched Hester Harvey go with no conscious regret, but with a certain grim pity, which was as futile as her visit. But, lying on the bed he fought hard against the bitter scorn that raged in him over the contemplation of Rosalind Benham's duplicity. He found it hard to believe that she had been duping him, for during the weeks of his acquaintance with her he had studied her much--with admiration-weighted prejudice, of course, since she made a strong appeal to him--and he had been certain, then, that she was as free from guile as a child--excepting any girl's natural artifices by which she concealed certain emotions that men had no business trying to read. He had read some of them--his business or not--and he had imagined he had seen what had fired his blood--a reciprocal affection. He would not have declared himself, otherwise. He went to sleep, thinking of her. He awoke about noon, to see Barkwell standing at his side, shaking him. "Have you got any understandin' with that railroad gang that they're to do any minin' on the Diamond K range?" "No." "Well, they're gettin' ready to do it. Over at the butte near the railroad cut. I passed there a while ago an' quizzed the big guy--Corrigan--about a gang workin' there. He says they're goin' to mine coal. I asked him if he had your permission an' he said he didn't need it. I reckon they ain't none shy on gall where that guy come from!" Trevison got out of bed and buckled on his cartridge belt and pistol. "The boys are working the Willow Creek range," he said, sharply. "Get them, tell them to load up with plenty of cartridges, and join me at the butte."