Part 63 (2/2)

Joe got to his feet. ”Only by trickery!” he cried. ”He wouldn't stand up to me! I could have knocked him out any time. Everybody was against me! It takes the heart out of a man.” Tears threatened again.

General laughter greeted this.

”That's all right!” cried Joe furiously from the door. ”I'll get you yet!” He went out.

The others now began to crowd around Sam, congratulating him a little sheepishly, slapping his back. A great, sweet calm filled Sam. This was the moment he had dreamed of during his long days on the trail and his lonely nights at Grier's Point.

He had made good. He was a man among men. They acknowledged it. It was like a song inside him. The hideous wound that Bela had dealt him was healed.

He glanced over his shoulder at her. From her corner she was gazing at him as at a young G.o.d. Calm filled her breast, too. Joe was gone, and her secret still safe. Surely after to-night, she thought, there would be no need of keeping it.

They heard Joe climb into his wagon outside and curse at his horses.

Instead of turning into the road, he drove back to the door and pulled up. Bela turned pale again.

Joe shouted through the doorway: ”Anyhow, no woman keeps me!”

”d.a.m.n you! What do you mean?” cried Sam.

”You owe the clothes you wear to her, and the gun you carry! The horses you drive are hers!”

”You lie!” cried Sam, springing toward the door.

Joe whipped up his horses. ”Ask her!” he shouted back.

Sam whirled about and, seizing the wrist of the shrinking Bela, dragged her out of her corner.

”Is it true,” he demanded--”the horses? Answer me before them all!”

She fought for breath enough to lie.

He saw it. ”If you lie to me again I'll kill you!” he cried. ”Answer me! Is it your team that I drive?”

His violence overbore her defences. ”Yes,” she said tremulously. ”What difference does it make?”

The men looked on, full of shamefaced curiosity at this unexpected turn. One or two, more delicate-minded, went outside.

Sam's ghastly wound was torn wide open again. ”What difference?” he cried, white and blazing. ”Oh, my G.o.d, it means you've made a fool of me a second time! It means I've nerved myself and trained myself to fight this brute only to find he's able to give me the laugh after all!”

”Sam--you so poor, then,” she murmured.

It was like oil on the flames. He flung off her beseeching hand. ”I didn't ask your help!” he cried pa.s.sionately. ”I told you to leave me alone! You can't understand a man has his pride. You're loathsome to me now!”

Mahooley interfered with good intent. ”Sam, you're foolish. What difference does it make? n.o.body blames you!”

”Keep your mouth out of this!” cried Sam, whirling on him.

To Bela he went on blindly: ”The team is at the Point. I'll have it here in an hour! My credit at the store is yours! You hear that, Mahooley? Turn over what's coming to me to her. The gun, the axe, the blankets I'll keep. I'll pay you for them when I earn it. I'll make you a present of my labour, driving for you. And I hope to G.o.d I'll never see you again!” He ran out.

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