"Yes, so do I," answered Wiley gravely. "I'd be dealing with a gentleman, then. But if your mother thinks, just because she is a woman, she can run amuck with a gun, then she gives up all right to be treated like a lady and she has to take what's coming to her." "But Wiley!" she appealed, "just let her off this time and she'll never do it again. She's over-wrought and nervous and----" "Nope," said Wiley, "it's gone past me now--she'll have to answer before the judge. But if you think you can restrain her I'll be willing to let it go and have her bound over to keep the peace." "Oh, that'll be fine! If she just promises not to bother you and----" "And puts up a five-thousand-dollar bond," added Wiley. "And the next time she makes a gun-play or comes around and threatens me the five thousand dollars is gone." "Oho!" she accused, "so that's your scheme! You've been framing this up, all the time!" "Sure," nodded Wiley, with his old cynical smile, "I just love to be shot at. I got her to come over on purpose." "Well, I'll bet you did!" cried Virginia excitedly. "Didn't you have that officer right there? You've just framed this up to rob us. And how are we going to give a five-thousand-dollar bond when you know we haven't a cent? Oh, I--I hate you, Wiley Holman; and if you put my mother in jail I'll--I'll come back and kill you, myself!" She stamped her foot angrily, but a light leapt into Wiley's eyes such as had flamed there when he had faced Stiff Neck George. "Very well," he said, "if you people think you can rough-house me I'll show you I can rough it, myself. I've tried to be friendly and to give you the best of it; but now it's all off, for good. I hate to fight a woman, but----" "You do not!" she challenged. "You're a coward, that's what you are! And you can take your old stock back!" She drew a package from her bosom and slammed it spitefully on the table and rushed out after her mother. Wiley picked up the envelope and regarded it absently, his lip curling to a twisted smile. It was the package of stock which he had bought from Death Valley Charley and returned, as a gift, to Virginia. CHAPTER XVII PEACE--AND THE PRICE In the justice court at Vegas the Widow Huff met her match in the person of the magistrate, who warned her peremptorily that if she interrupted again he would commit her for contempt of court. Then the bailiff smote his desk a resounding blow and there was silence in the presence of the law. It was a new thing to her, this power called the law and that accuser of all offenders, The People; and before she had finished she learned the great truth that no one is above the law. It governs us all and, but for the mercy of the courts, would land most of our hot-heads in jail. But though it was proved beyond the peradventure of a doubt that the Widow had attempted violence it was tacitly understood that, being a woman, there would be no actual commitment.