“Sit down,” he ordered. “He’s done no wrong.” “The dirty half-breed!” snarled McLeese. June Meline was on her feet, her hands on the table, as she leaned forward, staring at the window where Silver had disappeared. He had taunted her, called her a squaw! But there was something romantically wild about this tall, slim, white-toothed young man who defied them. He had laughed at them and refused to work for Park Reber. “The trouble is,” Reber was speaking, “yo’re all afraid of Jack Silver.” June turned quickly to Reber. “I’m not,” she declared. Reber smiled at her. “You’re not, June?” “Not a bit. I’ll bet I could trap him.” Several of the men laughed aloud. “He’d steal you,” declared McLeese, and then laughed at his own statement. “You think you could, eh?” said Reber slowly. “I wonder.” “Ridiculous,” declared Jackson. Reber leaned on the table looking at June, studying her keenly. Suddenly he struck the table with his clenched fist. “I’ll do it!” he exclaimed. “June, beginnin’ tomorrow you’ll be a ranch-foreman for the Diamond R.” He looked around at the hard-bitted faces of his men, who were looking at him, wondering whether he was in his right mind. “What ranch?” asked McLeese. Reber shifted his eyes to McLeese. “The Two Bar X.” McLeese’s ranch. He shut his jaws tightly and looked at Reber. He knew it meant that Reber was going to fire him. “That’s a ---- of a note!” he snorted. “I run my ranches to suit myself, McLeese.” Reber reached in his pocket and took out a wallet, from which he counted out several bills. He handed them to McLeese. “That’s yore pay up to the first of the month, McLeese.” “And I’m through right now, eh?” “Yeah, right now.” “All right,” McLeese got to his feet unsteadily. “I’ve got some personal stuff at the ranch and I’ll go get it.” Reber nodded, and they watched McLeese leave the house. None of the other men made any comment. For several moments after McLeese was gone Reber stared silently at the door. Then: “I think that’s all boys. Goodnight.” He got to his feet and June walked from the room with him. The men looked curiously at him, and went out. “I need a shot of liquor,” said Patterson dryly. “Personally, I think the old man is losin’ his mind.” “He’s as crazy as a bedbug!” snapped Carlin. “Offers a job to Jack Silver, and then gives it to a ---- woman! I’ll take a drink with yuh.” * * * * * Park Reber wanted to go with June to the Two Bar X ranch the next day, but the old doctor vetoed such a move on the part of his patient. Reber was far from well. There was none of his men in from the ranches, so he sent Jud Nelson and Sam Heard, two of his men who worked in Tomahawk, to accompany June.