"Any charge against Whispering Smith is a charge against me. He is not here to defend himself, but he needs no defence. You have charged me already with misleading surveys. I was telephoned for this morning to come over to see why you had held up our work, and your men cover me with rifles while I am riding on a public road." "You have been warned, or your men have, to keep off this ranch. Your man Stevens cut our wires this morning----" "As he had a perfect right to do on our right of way." "If you think so, stranger, go ahead again!" "Oh, no! We won't have civil war--not right away, at least. And if you and your men have threatened and browbeaten me enough for to-day, I will go." "Don't set foot on the Stone Ranch again, and don't send any men here to trespass, mark you!" "I mark you perfectly. I did not set foot willingly on your ranch to-day. I was dragged on it. Where the men are grading now, they will finish their work." "No, they won't." "What, would you drive us off land you have already deeded?" "The first man that cuts our wires or orders them cut where they were strung yesterday will get into trouble." "Then don't string any wires on land that belongs to us, for they will certainly come down if you do." Lance Dunning turned in a passion. "I'll put a bullet through you if you touch a barb of Stone Ranch wire!" Stormy Gorman jumped forward with his hand covering the grip of his six-shooter. "Yes, damn you, and I'll put another!" "Cousin Lance!" Dicksie Dunning advanced swiftly into the room. "You are under our own roof, and you are wrong to talk in that way." Her cousin stared at her. "Dicksie, this is no place for you!" "It is when my cousin is in danger of forgetting he is a gentleman." "You are interfering with what you know nothing about!" exclaimed Lance angrily. "I know what is due to every one under this roof." "Will you be good enough to leave this room?" "Not if there is to be any shooting or threats of shooting that involve my cousin." "Dicksie, leave the room!" There was a hush. The cowboys dropped back. Dicksie stood motionless. She gave no sign in her manner that she heard the words, but she looked very steadily at her cousin. "You forget yourself!" was all she said. "I am master here!" "Also my cousin," murmured Dicksie evenly. "You don't understand this matter at all!" declared Lance Dunning vehemently. "Nothing could justify your language." "Do you think I am going to allow this railroad company to ruin this ranch while I am responsible here? You have no business interfering, I say!" "I think I have." "These matters are not of your affair!"