Kate made no move to take it. Instead, she continued to look at him, a crooked little smile on her lips. Loudon was the first to lower his gaze. His arm dropped to his side. "You are trying to be disagreeable," said Kate, "and you succeed in being foolish. The money belongs to that man. He earned it, and it's his." "It won't do him any good," muttered Loudon. "That depends on how he spends it." "He'll never live to spend it." "You're mistaken. You will let him go." "That's likely, that is!" "It's quite likely. In fact, it's a certainty. You will let Rudd go." "Djuh know he's a hoss thief? Do yuh? I've got proof. He's one o' the bunch stole Scotty's hosses. An' yuh want me to let him go?" "I want you to let him go." "Well, I won't." "Listen, Tom, listen to me, please. And take off that horrid, stubborn expression. You look exactly like a sulky child. There, that's much better. Don't smile if it hurts you, grumpy. There, I knew it would come. Oh, it's gone again. Well, anyhow, you haven't forgotten how to smile, and that's a blessing." "I hate to hurry yuh, but----" "I know what a bore it is to be compelled to listen to me, but you'll have to endure the ordeal. Listen, if it hadn't been for me Rudd wouldn't have been here to-day, and you wouldn't have caught him." "We'd have caught him later." "Perhaps you wouldn't. At any rate, he'd probably have had a chance to make a fight. As it is, he was caught like a rat in a trap. And if it wasn't for me he wouldn't be in the trap." "Marvin would 'a' got him if we didn't." "Marvin has nothing to do with it. The fact remains that I am to blame for the capture of Rudd." "We're much obliged to yuh." "That isn't worthy of you, Tom." "I beg yore pardon. I was too quick." "Granted. You were. Since I am to blame, I can do no less than see that he goes free." "It's no use a-talkin'. He don't go free." "He will--if I have to keep you here till doomsday. Listen, did you remark the sublime manner in which Marvin jumped at conclusions? You did. Exactly." "I knowed he was wrong, o' course." "Oh, you did. How did you know?" "Well--I--knowed you." To Loudon's astonishment Kate burst into shrill laughter. "For this certificate of good character I thank you," said she, wiping her eyes. "Heavens, if you hadn't made me laugh I'd have gone off into hysterics! What odd minds you men have. Upon my word, I--but no matter. Marvin has no grounds for saying that Rudd tried to sell out the 88. I ought to know. I did my best to pump him, but I couldn't get a word out of him. He is a clam. I worked so hard, too. It made me frightfully angry." "So that was it! I know yuh was mad about somethin' when yuh banged yore horn thataway an' throwed that handkerchief at him. But--but--say, what was the money for, anyhow?"