"Why, certainly," she returned, still with that subtle resentment, "I have no objections at all. Only it might make a difference to Mr. Stoddard if he found us both away." "Aw, that's all bosh!" broke out Rimrock impatiently, "he's got his hands more than full in New York. I happen to know he's framing up a copper deal that will lay the Hackmeisters wide open. That's why I want to go back. Mrs. Hardesty says----" "Mrs. Hardesty?" Rimrock stopped and looked down. Then he picked up his hat and made another false start for the door. "Yes, Mrs. Hardesty--she came in last night. That lady that wore the tiger skin." "Oh!" said Mary and something in her voice seemed to stab him in the back as he fled. "Say, what do you mean?" he demanded, coming angrily back, "you speak like something was wrong. Can't a man look twice at some other woman without your saying: 'Oh!' I want you to understand that this Mrs. Hardesty is just as good as you are. And what's more, by grab, she's got stock in our Company and we ought to be treating her nice. Yes, she bought it from Stoddard; and if I could just pull her over---- "How much stock?" asked Mary, reaching suddenly for a book, and Rimrock fidgeted and turned red. "Two thousand shares!" he said defiantly. "She's got as much as you have." "Oh!" murmured Mary as she ran through the book, and Rimrock flew into a fury. "Now for the love of Mike!" he cried, striding towards her, "don't always be pulling that book! I know you know where every share is, and just who transferred it to who, but this Mrs. Hardesty has told me she's got it and that ought to be enough!" "Why, certainly!" agreed Mary, instantly closing the book. "I just didn't recall the name. Is she waiting for you now? Then don't let me detain you. I'll be starting East to-night." Rimrock rocked on his feet in impotent anger as he groped for a fitting retort. "Well, go then!" he said. "What do I give a damn?" And he rushed savagely out of the room. CHAPTER XVII AN AFTERTHOUGHT It was part of the violent nature of Rimrock that his wrath fell upon both the just and the unjust. Mary Fortune had worsted him in their passage at arms and left him bruised from head to heels. She had simply let him come on and at every bludgeon stroke she had replied with a rapier thrust. Without saying a word against the character of Mrs. Hardesty she had conveyed the thought that she was an adventuress; or, if not exactly that, then something less than a lady. And the sure way in which she had reached for that book was proof positive that the stock was not recorded. But the thing that maddened him most, and against which there was no known defense, was her subtle implication that Mrs. Hardesty was at the bottom of his plan to go East. And so, with the fury still hot in his brain, he made poor company on the road to the Tecolote.