"Bostil, I'm sorry I can't take you up on the job," rejoined Slone, swiftly. "It's been hard for me to decide. You've been good to me. I'm grateful. But it's time I was tellin' you." "Why can't you?" demanded Bostil, straightening up with a glint in his big eyes. It was the first time he had asked Slone that. "I can't ride for you," replied Slone, briefly. "Anythin' to do with Lucy?" queried Bostil. "How so?" returned Slone, conscious of more heat. "Wal, you was sweet on her an' she wouldn't have you," replied Bostil. Slone felt the blood swell and boil in his veins. This Bostil could say as harsh and hard things as repute gave him credit for. "Yes, I AM sweet on Lucy, an' she won't have me," said Slone, steadily. "I asked her to let me come to you an' tell you I wanted to marry her. But she wouldn't." "Wal, it's just as good you didn't come, because I might...." Bostil broke off his speech and began again. "You don't lack nerve, Slone. What'd you have to offer Lucy?" "Nothin' except--But that doesn't matter," replied Slone, cut to the quick by Bostil's scorn. "I'm glad you know, an' so much for that." Bostil turned to look at Wildfire once more, and he looked long. When he faced around again he was another man. Slone felt the powerful driving passion of this old horse-trader. "Slone, I'll give you pick of a hundred mustangs an' a thousand dollars for Wildfire!" So he unmasked his power in the face of a beggarly rider! Though it struck Slone like a thunderbolt, he felt amused. But he did not show that. Bostil had only one possession, among all his uncounted wealth, that could win Wildfire from his owner. "No," said Slone, briefly. "I'll double it," returned Bostil, just as briefly. "No!" "I'll--" "Save your breath, Bostil," flashed Slone. "You don't know me. But let me tell you--you CAN'T BUY my horse!" The great veins swelled and churned in Bostil's bull neck; a thick and ugly contortion worked in his face; his eyes reflected a sick rage. Slone saw that two passions shook Bostil--one, a bitter, terrible disappointment, and the other, the passion of a man who could not brook being crossed. It appeared to Slone that the best thing he could do was to get away quickly, and to this end he led Wildfire out of the corral to the stable courtyard, and there quickly saddled him. Then he went into another corral for his other horse, Nagger, and, bringing him out, returned to find Bostil had followed as far as the court. The old man's rage apparently had passed or had been smothered. "See here," he began, in thick voice, "don't be a d--- fool an' ruin your chance in life. I'll--" "Bostil, my one chance was ruined--an' you know who did it," replied Slone, as he gathered Nagger's rope and Wildfire's bridle together. "I've no hard feelin's.... But I can't sell you my horse. An' I can't ride for you--because--well, because it would breed trouble." "An' what kind?" queried Bostil.