What have you done to be roped that way ?" "It's a damned outrage!" burst out Venters.

"I've done no wrong.

I've offended this Mormon Elder by being a friend to that woman." "Ma'am, is it true--what he says ?" asked the rider of Jane, but his quiveringly alert eyes never left the little knot of quiet men.
"True?
Yes, perfectly true," she answered.
"Well, young man, it seems to me that bein' a friend to such a woman would be what you wouldn't want to help an' couldn't help....

What's to be done to you for it ?" "They intend to whip me.

You know what that means--in Utah!" "I reckon," replied the rider, slowly.
With his gray glance cold on the Mormons, with the restive bit-champing of the horses, with Jane failing to repress her mounting agitations, with Venters standing pale and still, the tension of the moment tightened.