"I was jest takin' a short cut to Bossman's," he began, hoarsely, through his teeth. "I'll git off yer place, if you say so. I didn't think you'd mind my cuttin' off a mile er so. Mrs. Grimes's baby's sick an'----" "You needn't explain. Get out--that's all!" "Oh, Jud," moaned the girl helplessly. "Don't be afraid, Justine. I won't hurt your doll baby. I'll git off yer place. If it wasn't fer you, though, I'd pound his head into dog meat," sneered 'Gene. "You would, would you? You're a liar, dem you! A liar! Are you coward enough to take that?" cried Jud, taking a step forward. She threw her arms about him and tried to drag him away. "Let go, Justine!" he shouted. "How can I protect myself with you hanging--let go, I say!" She was stunned by the first angry words he had ever spoken to her. Her arms dropped and she staggered back. "Oh, God! Oh, God!" she half whispered. "Jud, Jud, don't! He will kill you!" "Let him try it! Justine, dear, I'm no coward, and I owe him a licking, anyhow. Now's as good a time as any other. Go to the house, dear--it won't do for you to see it," said her husband, very pale and breathing heavily. He was throwing his coat to the ground where his hat already lay. "You must not--you shall not fight, Jud! Do you want to kill me? Mrs. Hardesty says he is a devil! Don't, don't, don't, Jud! If you love me, don't fight him, Jud!" She threw herself between the men. Crawley had not moved from his tracks, but the wild glare of the beast was fighting its way to his eyes. He was fast losing control. Try as he would he could not retreat; he could not turn coward before his old enemy. "Will you fight, 'Gene Crawley?" demanded Jud, over his shoulder. "Or will you run like a whipped pup?" In a second Crawley's coat was off and he was rolling up his sleeves. Jud pushed Justine aside. [Illustration: "IN A SECOND CRAWLEY WAS ROLLING UP HIS SLEEVES."] "You'd better go to the house," 'Gene said to her. "It ain't right fer you to see us fight. I didn't want to, remember, but, dern him, he can't call me a coward. I'll fight him till I'm dead." "We'll settle up old scores, too," said Jud. "You've annoyed Justine and you ain't fit to breathe the same air as she does." "Damn you, Jud Sherrod, I keer as much fer her as you do. I'd die fer her, if she'd let me. You took her from me an' we've got to have it out now. You kin kill me, but you cain't make me say I don't love her!" "I despise you, 'Gene Crawley! Oh, how I hate you!" cried the girl. "I've always hated you!" "I know it! I know it! You needn't throw it up to me! But I'll make you sorry fer it, see if I don't----" "Stop that! Don't you talk that way to my wife! Are you ready to fight?" cried Jud, advancing. She made a clutch at his arm and then sank back powerless against the great oak. "As soon as she goes to the house," replied the other. "Go to the house, Justine," cried Jud impatiently, but she did not move.