“My heavens,” teased Webb, “it must have been a fierce battle! Do you mean to tell me you allowed a Yancey to ruffle the feathers of a Webb this way? Make up, old kid, and do it darn’ quick. I need your help with Betty.” “Well, you wont get it,” declared Elaine firmly, “and I wont make up with him.” “Even if you do get a chance,” jeered her brother. “He hasn’t come around lately, has he? Couldn’t you hold--” Webb stopped and looked keenly at her. “What’s the matter, sis?” he asked in an entirely different tone of voice. “Tell old John about--if you can.” “Certainly I can. It--that day we drove over to see a man Bud wanted to ask something. When we were coming back, I stopped to look at the view, and there was a fight down in the--chaparral, and after it was over I wanted to go down and see it, and he wouldn’t. He put his foot over against the gear-shift, and--” “Wait a minute,” interrupted Webb. “What went before this foot-putting stuff? You say there was a fight down in the chaparral? You mean a fight in the car, don’t you?” “No, I don’t--not that kind of a fight, anyway, though there would have been if I’d been big enough. He held it with his foot, and I couldn’t move it.” “That’s what I am trying to get at. Why did he?” “Why, he said it was dangerous to go down there, because there might be some more of the raiders, he called them.” “And you were going, anyway?” “Yes, I was--or no, I wasn’t really; but after he said I couldn’t, then I--” “Oh, I see. He said you couldn’t, so you were going anyway. Then he put his foot against the gear-shift and stopped you. Did it ever occur to you that a Texas ranger, in his own country, might know whether a thing was dangerous or not?” “No, it didn’t; and even if it did, he had no right to stop me.” “Well, my persecuted race!” said John Webb, in honest amazement. “And you sit there looking at least half-witted. Why, you darn’ little fool, it was his business to stop you! Do you think he would let you go, knowing you’d go into danger?” “I wasn’t going into danger,” said Elaine furiously, “and if I were, he ought to protect me. He was afraid, and--” “What? Afraid? Bud Yancey? Now I know you’re goofy. What the heck and high water is the matter with you, Lainy? My gosh, if being in love makes people act that way, I’m darn’ glad I’m--” “Oh,” said Elaine, getting up from the table, “you make me so--so damn’ mad!” “Well,” grinned Webb, rising also, “so does Mr. Yancey. . . . H’m--I wonder who the heck that is? Boy, howdy, see him make that turn? Take it easy, boy; Liz wont stand much of that. Holy cats! He’s coming over here!” And Webb ran down the steps to meet the flivver that was charging up to the steps. * * * * *