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disappointed？〃
〃Temporarily。 But when I want a thing I take it in the end。〃
She knew he was serving notice on her that he meant to win her； and
again the little spinal shiver raced over her。 She could not look at his
sardonic； evil face without fear； and she could not look away without
being aware of his eyes possessing her。 What was the use of courage
against such a creature as this？
〃Yes； I understand you take a good deal that isn't yours；〃 she retorted
carelessly； her eyes on the arena。
〃I make it mine when I take it；〃 he answered coolly； admiring the
gameness which she wore as a suit of chain armor against his thrusts。
〃Isn't it a little dangerous sometimes？〃 her even voice countered。
〃When you take what belongs to others you run a risk； don't you？〃
〃That's part of the rules。 Except for that I shouldn't like it so well。 I
hunt big game； and the bigger the game the more risk。 That's why y'u
guessed right when y'u said I was enjoying the mo'ning。〃
〃Meaningyour cousin？〃
〃Well； no。 I wasn't thinking of him； though he's some sizable。 But I'm
hunting bigger game than he is； and I expect to bag it。〃
She let her scornful eyes drift slowly over him。 〃I might pretend to
misunderstand you。 But I won't。 You may have your answer now。 I am not
afraid of you； for since you are a bully you must be a coward。 I saw a
rattlesnake last week in the hills。 It reminded me of some one I have seen。
I'll leave you to guess who。〃
Her answer drew blood。 The black tide raced under the swarthy tan of
his face。 He leaned forward till his beady eyes were close to her defiant
ones。 〃Y'u have forgotten one thing； Miss Messiter。 A rattlesnake can sting。
I ask nothing of you。 Can't I break your heart without your loving me？
You're only a womanand not the first I have broken； by God〃
His slim； lithe body was leaning forward so that it cut off others； and
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left them to all intents alone。 At a touch of her fingers the handbag in her
lap flew open and a little ivory…hilted revolver lay in her hand。
〃You may break me； but you'll never bend me an inch。〃
He looked at the little gun and laughed ironically。 〃Sho！ If y'u should
hit me with that and I should find it out I might get mad at y'u。〃
〃Did I say it was for you？〃 she said coldly； and again the shock of
joined eyes ended in drawn battle。
〃Have y'u the nerve？〃 He looked her over； so dainty and so resolute； so
silken strong； and he knew he had his answer。
His smoldering eyes burned with desire to snatch her to him and ride
away into the hills。 For he was a man who lived in his sensations。 He had
won many women to their hurt； but it was the joy of conflict that made the
pursuit worth while to him； and this young woman； who could so
delightfully bubble with little laughs ready to spill over and was yet
possessed of a spirit so finely superior to the tenderness of her soft； round；
maidenly curves； allured him mightily to the attack。
She dropped the revolver back into the bag and shut the clasp with a
click； 〃And now I think； Mr。 Bannister； that I'll not detain you any longer。
We understand each other sufficiently。〃
He rose with a laugh that mocked。 〃I expaict to spend quite a bit of
time understanding y'u one of these days。 In the meantime this is to our
better acquaintance。〃
Deliberately； without the least haste； he stooped and kissed her before
she could rally from the staggering surprise of the intention she read in his
eyes too late to elude。 Then； with the coolest bravado in the world； he
turned on his heel and strolled away。
Angry sapphires gleamed at him from under the long； brown lashes。
She was furious； aghast； daunted。 By the merest chance she was sitting in
a corner of the box； so screened from observation that none could see。 But
the insolence of him； the reckless defiance of all standards of society；
shook her even while it enraged her。 He had put forth his claim like a
braggart； but he had made good with an audacity superb in its effrontery。
How she hated him！ How she feared him！ The thoughts were woven
inseparably in her mind。 Mephisto himself could not have impressed
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himself more imperatively than this strutting； heartless master artist in
vice。
She saw him again presently down in the arena； for it was his turn to
show his skill at roping。 Texas had done well； very well； indeed。 He had
made the throw and tie in thirty…seven seconds； which was two seconds
faster than the record of the previous year。 But she knew instinctively； as
her fascinated eyes watched the outlaw preparing for the feat； that he was
going to win。 He would use his success as a weapon against her； as a
means of showing her that he always succeeded in whatever he undertook。
So she interpreted he look he flung her as he waited at the chute for the
wild hill steer to be driven into the arena。 It takes a good man physically to
make a successful roper。 He must be possessed of nerve； skill and
endurance far out of the ordinary。 He must be quick…eyed； strong…handed；
nimble of foot； expert of hand and built like a wildcat。 So Denver
explained to the two young women in the box； and the one behind him
admitted reluctantly that she long； lean； supple Centaur waiting
impassively at the gateway fitted the specifications。
Out flashed the rough…coated hill steer； wild and fleet as a hare； thin
and leggy； with muscles of whipcord。 Down went the flag； and the
stopwatches began to tick off the seconds。 Like an arrow the outlaw's pony
shot forward； a lariat circling round and round the rider's head。 At every
leap the cow pony lessened the gap as it pounded forward on the heels of
the flying steer。
The loop swept forward and dropped over the horns of the animal。 The
pony； with the perfect craft of long practice； swerved to one side with a
rush。 The dragging rope swung up against the running steer's legs； grew
suddenly taut。 Down went the steer's head； and next moment its feet were