Page:BM Bower - Her Prairie Knight.djvu/168

 The man laughed a little. Evidently the situation amused him, whether the others could see the humor of it or not. "So I'm to have your cayuse, eh?"

Keith saw two big tears tipping over her lower lids, and gritted his teeth.

"Well, it ain't often I git a chance t' please a lady," the fellow decided. "I guess Rex'll do, all right Go over and change saddles, youngster—and don't git gay. I've got the drop, and yuh notice I'm keeping it."

"Are you going to take his saddle?" Beatrice stood up and clinched her hands, looking very much as if she would like to pull his hair. Keith in trouble appealed to her strangely.

"Sure thing. It's a peach, from the look of it Mine's over the hill a piece. Step along there, kid! I want t' be movin'."

"You'll need to go some!" flared Keith, over his shoulder.

"I expect t' go some," retorted the man. "A 'fellow with three sheriff's possys campin' on his trail ain't apt t' loiter none."

"Oh!" Beatrice sat down and stared. "Then you must be" 164