He watched her, a smile on his lips, his eyes narrowed.

When she stamped her foot the smile grew to a short, amused laugh.
"Sorta riled, eh ?" he jeered.

"Well, go as far as you like--you're sure amusin'.

But I don't reckon that I'll be leavin' here in a hurry.
Didn't the old man tell you I could stay here a year?
What's the use of me goin' now, just when you're goin' to start to reform me?
Why," he finished, surveying her with interest; "I reckon the old man would be plumb tickled to see the way you're carryin' on--obeyin' his last wishes." He rested his head on his arms and laughed heartily.
He heard her step across the floor, and raised his head again, to look into the muzzle of the pistol he had laid on the desk.

It was close to him, steady in her hands, and behind it her eyes were blazing with wrath and determination.
"Go!" she ordered sharply; "go now--this minute, or I will shoot you!" He laughed recklessly into the muzzle of the weapon and then without visible excitement turned in his chair, reached out a swift hand, grasped the weapon by the barrel and depressed the menacing muzzle so that it pointed straight downward.