CHAPTER III.
Mr.Patterson did not inform his wife of the lawyer's personal threat to himself.

But he managed, after Poindexter had left, to make her conscious that Mrs.Tucker might be a power to be placated and feared.
"You've shot off your mouth at her," he said argumentatively, "and whether you've hit the mark or not you've had your say.

Ef you think it's worth a possible five thousand dollars and interest to keep on, heave ahead.

Ef you rather have the chance of getting the rest in cash, you'll let up on her." "You don't suppose," returned Mrs.Patterson contemptuously, "that she's got anything but what that man of hers--Poindexter--lets her have ?" "The sheriff says," retorted Patterson surlily, "that she's notified him that she claims the rancho as a gift from her husband three years ago, and she's in POSSESSION now, and was so when the execution was out.

It don't make no matter," he added, with gloomy philosophy, "who's got a full hand as long as WE ain't got the cards to chip in.