Here I'd hev been willin' to swear that Mrs.Baxter here told me SHE had sold this yer ranch nearly two years ago to Don Jose, and now you--" "Stop!" said Mrs.Tucker, in a voice that chilled them.
She was standing upright and rigid, as if stricken to stone.

"I command you to tell me what this means!" she said, turning only her blazing eyes upon the woman.
Even the ready smile faded from Mrs.Baxter's lips as she replied hesitatingly and submissively: "I thought you knew already that Spencer had given this ranch to me.

I sold it to Don Jose to get the money for us to go away with.

It was Spencer's idea--" "You lie!" said Mrs.Tucker.
There was a dead silence.

The wrathful blood that had quickly mounted to Mrs.Baxter's cheek, to Patterson's additional bewilderment, faded as quickly.