"Well, some of ye put me out," suggested Blatchley, significantly. He had brought a jug of moonshine whiskey over from the still and it was flowing freely, though unknown to Old Jephthah, in the loft where most of his possessions were kept. No man moved to lay finger on him. He held Judith--scarlet of face and almost in tears--by her elbows, and lowered his mocking countenance to within a few inches of her angry eyes. "Now kiss me pretty, and kiss me all yo'self. I ain't got nothin' to do with this; hit's yo' play. You been wantin' to git a chance to kiss me this long while," he asserted with derisive humour. "Don't you hold off becaze the others is here; that ain't the way you do when we're--" "Wade--Jim Cal! Won't some o' you boys pull this fool man away," appealed Judith. "I wish somebody'd call Uncle Jep. You can hold yo' ugly old face there till yo' hair turns grey," she suddenly and furiously addressed her admirer. "I'll never kiss ye." "Oh, yes you will--you always do," Blatchley maintained. "Ef I was to tell the folks how blame lovin' ye are when jest you and me is alone together----" He looked over his shoulder to enjoy the triumph of the moment. Blatchley Turrentine's delight was to traverse the will of every other human being with his own preference. Judith's gaze, tormented, tear-blurred, followed his and saw across the shoulders of the others, the shine of Creed Bonbright's fair hair, in the doorway. The sight brought from her an inarticulate cry. It fired Blatchley to take the kiss which he had vowed should be given him. As he bent to do so, Creed stepped forward and laid a hand upon his shoulder. The movement was absolutely pacific, but the fingers closed with a viselike grip, and there was so sharp a backward jerk that the proffered salute was not delivered. In the surprise of the moment Judith pulled herself free and stood at bay. For an instant the two men looked into each other's eyes. Creed's blue orbs were calm, impersonal, and without one hint of yielding or fear. "If you don't play fair," he said in argumentative tone, "there's no use playing at all. Let's close up the ring and try it again."