"If I can!" hedged Wiley. "But for the Lord's sake, Virginia, don't tell what I said to your mother! It won't make any difference, because she's given me a quit-claim--but what's the use of having any trouble?" "Yes, sure enough!" murmured Virginia, with cutting sarcasm. "She might even demand her rights!" "Well, maybe you _like_ to fight!" burst out Wiley angrily, "and if you do, all right--hop to it! But I'll tell you one thing; if you can't be reasonable, I can be just as bullheaded as anybody!" "Yes, you can," she agreed and then she sighed wearily, and waved it all away with one hand. "Well, all right," she said, "I'm so sick and tired of it that I certainly don't want any more. And since I've taken your money, as you know very well, I'm going to go away and give you peace." Her eyes blinked fast, to hold back the tears, and once more the son of Honest John weakened. "No, I don't want you to go away," he answered gently, "but--isn't there something I can do before you go? I have to fight my way, you know that yourself, Virginia; but don't let that keep us from being friends. I'm a mining engineer, and I can't tell you all my plans, because that sure would put me out of business; but why can't you trust me, and then I'll trust you and--what is it you've got on your mind?" He reached for her hand but she drew it away and sat quiet, looking up the street. "You wouldn't understand," she said with a sigh. "You're always thinking about money and mines. But a woman is different--I suppose you'll laugh at me, but I'm worried about my cats." "About your cats!" he echoed, and she smiled up at him wistfully and then looked down at the kittens in her lap. "Yes," she said, "you know they were left to me when the people moved out of town, and now I've got eight of them and I just know that old Charley----" "He'll starve 'em to death," broke in Wiley, instantly. "I know the old tarrier well. You give 'em to me, Virginia, and I swear I'll take care of 'em just the same as I would of--you." "Oh," smiled Virginia, and then she gave him her hand and the old hatred died out in her eyes. "That's good of you, Wiley, and I certainly appreciate it; because no one would trust them with Charley. I'm going to take the two kittens, but you can have the rest of them and--you can write to me about them, sometimes." "Every week," answered Wiley. "I'll take 'em back to the ranch and the girls will look after them when I'm gone. We'll have to put them in sacks, but that will be better----" "Yes, that's better than starving," assented Virginia absently, and Wiley rose suddenly to go. There was something indefinable that stood between them, and no effort of his could break it down. He shook hands perfunctorily and started down the gallery and then abruptly he turned and swung back. "Here," he said, throwing her stock down before her, "I told you to hold onto that, once." CHAPTER XIV THE EXPLOSION