His rashness breaks the last bond between them. A shriek from the struggling woman echoes through the room. The door flies open. Hardin is hurled to the wall, reeling blindly. The energetic voice of Joe Woods breaks the silence. "You are a mean dog, but, by God, I did not think you'd strangle a woman." Hardin has struggled to his feet. In his hand, flashes a pistol. Joe Woods smiles. "Trying the old El Dorado dodge, Judge, won't work. Sit down now. Listen to me. Put up that shooting iron, or I'll nail you to the wall." His bowie knife presses a keen point to Hardin's breast. It is checkmate. Natalie Santos is buried in the cushions of her chair. She is sobbing wildly. Shuffling feet are at the door. The fracas has been overheard. Joe Woods quietly opens it. He speaks calmly. "The lady has fainted. It's all right. Go away." Through the door a girl's lovely face is seen, in frightened shyness. "I'll send for you, miss, soon," Colonel Joe remarks, with awkward sympathy. He seats himself nonchalantly. "Now, Hardin, I've got a little account to settle with you. I'll give you all the time you want. But I'll say right here before this lady, I know you are under an obligation to treat her decently. "I remember her at the El Dorado!" Hardin springs to his feet. Natalie raises her tearful eyes. "Keep cool, Judge," continues the speaker. "You used to take care of her. Now I'm a-going to advise her in her little private affairs. I want you to let her severely alone. I want you to treat her as she deserves; like a woman, not a beast. You can finish this interview with her. I'm a-going out. If you approach her after this, without my presence or until she sends for you, I'll scatter your brains with my old six-shooter. I shall see she gets a square deal. She's not going to leave California till this whole business is cleared up. You hear me." Joe's mood is dangerous. "Now go ahead with your palaver, madame. I'm not going to leave the house. I know my business, and I'll stand by you as long as my name is Joe Woods. When you're done I want you to see me, and see my lawyer." There is silence. Natalie's eyes give the stalwart miner a glance of unutterable thankfulness. She has met a man at last. Her bosom heaves with pride, her eyes beam on rough old Joe. Woods has taken out an unusually long cigar. He lights it at the door, and leisurely proceeds to smoke it on the upper veranda. When his foot-fall dies away, Hardin essays to speak. His lips are strangely dry. He mutters something, and the words fail him. Natalie interrupts, with scorn: "Curse you and your money, you cowardly thief. You have met your match at last. I trusted to your honor. Your hands were on my throat just now. I have but one word to say to you now. Go, face that man out there!" Hardin is in a blind rage. His legal vocabulary finds no ready phrase of adieu. His foot is on the top stair. Joe Woods says carelessly: