The Judge is a friend of mine." "It is not the sheriff--nor the Judge; I place reliance on no friend of yours." He grasped at her arm, but she stepped back quickly enough to avoid contact, and the red lips were pressed together in a thin line of determination.

Kirby could not have seen what I did, or if he did see, failed to attach the same significance to the action.

Her hand had suddenly disappeared within the folds of her skirt; but the angry man, apparently blinded by the violence of his passion, his eagerness to crush her spirit, thought only that she counted on outside aid for deliverance.
"You silly little fool," he snapped, his moustache bristling.

"Why, what could you do to stop me?
I could break your neck with one hand.
So you imagine someone is going to save you.

Well, who will it be?
Those yokels down at the Landing?
Haines, the lawyer?
You have a surprise up your sleeve for me, I suppose! Hell! it makes me laugh; but you might as well have your lesson now, as any other time.