had given her assent to ride with him into the Spout a great triumph had swept over the man's heart; his pride of conquest vaunted itself. As they rode together across the swelling divides Zang babbled exultingly of the future, and the pronoun we held large place in his discourse: "We 'll give those cow outfits a run," and "We 'll show that Original fella not to sit into a game less he savvys all the pricks on the cards."
Once in his pride of possession Zang pushed his mount close to the stumbling Christian and essayed to slip a masterful arm about the girl's waist. His hand was met by firm fingers, which promptly disengaged the clasp. "Say
" the man's protest began, but stopped there. Though Hilma's eyes were held resolutely to the front, a monitory tightening of the corners of her mouth carried warning not to be carelessly unheeded.Puzzlement slowly began to oust confidence from the lover's mind. This was not the way a woman should act after she had given in to a man. No, sir! Any girl who had consented to have Zang Whistler for a sweetheart ought to warm up a bit. Any girl who was riding with him to the Spout