Wiley shaved that evening and went down through the town, but when he put his hand on the Widow's gate his resolution failed him. He had placed her under bonds to keep the peace, and she had lived up to the undertaking scrupulously, but within her own house she had certain rights and privileges which even he dared not invade. If he stepped in that doorway she would order him out; and unquestionably she would be within her rights, since every man's house is his castle. So, on the very threshold of Virginia's retreat, he drew back and went to see Death Valley Charley. Death Valley was drunk, but his conscience was still active and he burst into a voluble explanation. "No, I gave her that stock," he protested earnestly, "but she made me take it back. "'It ain't mine,' she says, 'and I'll work my hands off before I'll take charity from anybody.' "'No, you keep it,' I says, just exactly like you tole me, 'because I'm your guardian, and all; and Wiley he says that I'm a hell of a poor one, because I sold him that stock for nothing. No,' I says, just exactly like you tole me, 'I want you to keep this stock.'" "Well?" inquired Wiley, as Charley paused to take a drink, "and what did Virginia say, then?" "Oh, I couldn't repeat it," answered Death Valley virtuously. "She don't seem to like you now. She says you stole her mine." "Huh!" grunted Wiley, and looked about the cabin which was littered with bottles and flasks. "Well, where've _you_ been?" he went on at last, the better to change the subject, and Charley leered at him shrewdly. "Over across Death Valley," he chanted drunkenly, "--on the east side, in the Funeral Range. But they put me to work on the graveyard shift so I quit and come back to town." "Ye-es," jeered Wiley, "you've been on a big drunk. What are you doing with this demijohn of whiskey?" "Why, I got it for the Colonel," replied Charley, laughing childishly, "and I started to take it over to him, but my burros got away at Daylight Springs, so I made camp and drunk it all up." "But it's full!" objected Wiley. "Yes, I refilled it," answered Charley and helped himself to another nip. "Thas second time now I took that whiskey to the Colonel and both times I drunk it up. Thas bad--the Colonel will kill me." "Yes, and do a danged good job," grumbled Wiley morosely. "You sure got me in Dutch with Virginia." "She says you stole her mine," defended Charley stoutly. "And don't you say nothing against Virginia. She's noblest girl the sun ever shined. I'll _kill_ any man that says different!" "Oh yes, sure," agreed Wiley, "I'd do that myself. But Charley, I didn't steal her mine. I got it from Blount, and if she wants it back--say, Charley, you tell her I want to see her!" He leaned over eagerly and laid his hand on Charley's shoulder, but Death Valley shook him off. "No!" he declaimed. "The Huffs are poor but proud--they don't take charity from no one!"