Kate Cathrew’s face was livid, terrible to look upon. She ran the short distance to the end of the platform, leaped off and darted to her horse, her hands clawing at the rifle which hung on her saddle. Selwood pushed Nance inside the store and flung the door shut. “That woman’s a maniac for the moment,” he said, “you’re best in there.” When Kate came running back with the gun in her hands he faced her before the closed door, his hands in his pockets. If any of the tense watchers had had a doubt of Price Selwood’s courage they lost it then, for he took his life in his hands. “Kate,” he said quietly, “put up that gun. This isn’t outlaw country. If you make a blunder you’ll hang just like any other murderer—even if you are Kate Cathrew.” For a moment the woman looked at him as a trapped wild-cat might have done, her lips loose and shaking, her eyes mad with rage. Then she struck the rifle, butt down, on the hard earth and with a full-mouthed oath, flung around the corner, tore the stallion’s reins from the ring in the wall and mounted with a whirl. She struck Bluefire once and was gone down the road in a streak of dust. Selwood opened the door. “A narrow shave,” he said gravely, “if that had happened anywhere but here you’d be a dead woman, Miss Allison.” “Perhaps,” said Nance, “she’s taken two shots at me already from the hillside—or someone has. Well—I’ve told you, McKane, as was your right. Now I’ll go back to Nameless.” She turned away, but the trader cleared his throat. “Ah—about the money for the harness,” he said apologetically, “I—that is—I’ve got to collect it. Times ain’t——” Price Selwood swung around and shot a look at him. “Eh?” he said. “Got to collect——? Ah, yes, I see—at Cattle Kate’s request! You are a fool, McKane. Here, Miss Allison—I’m the sheriff of this county. Wouldn’t you rather owe me that money than owe it to McKane? _I_ can wait till you raise another crop—I’m not so pushed as our friend here. What do you say?” Nance raised her eyes to his and they were suddenly soft and blue again. The tight line let go about her upper lip and a stiff smile came instead. “You knew my Pappy—and I have not forgot how kind you were after—after——. Yes, Mr. Selwood, I’d rather owe you, a whole lot rather, and I’ll work doubly hard to pay you back.” Selwood drew some bills from his pocket. “How much, McKane?” he asked. The trader sullenly named the amount and received it on the spot. “Now if you’d just as soon,” said the sheriff, “I’ll ride out to Nameless with you. I’d like to take a look at that trampled field.” As they left the town and rode out into the trail that led to Nameless, Nance took off her hat and drew a long, deep breath. Selwood laughed. “Do you feel like that?” he asked. “Exactly,” said she, “like a weight was off my shoulders. That debt to McKane was a bitter load.” “The trader is getting into deep water” said the sheriff. “I hate to see him do it.” “How—deep water?”