"The fool!" he muttered half aloud, then caught his breath quickly.

"Now see here, Kid," and he turned her about so that he might look down into her eyes, "I 'm mighty glad you like me well enough to put up a kick, but if all this is true about me, why should n't she say it?
Do you believe that sort of a fellow would prove a very good kind to look after a young lady ?" "I ain't a young lady!" "No; well, you 're going to be if I have my way, and I don't believe the sort of a gent described would be very apt to help you much in getting there." "You ain't all that." "Well, perhaps not.

Like an amateur artist, madam may have laid the colors on a little thick.

But I am no winged angel, Kid, nor exactly a model for you to copy after.

I reckon you better stick to the woman, and cut me." She did not answer, yet he read an unchanged purpose in her eyes, and his own decision strengthened.