And then she saw the packages of bills. She rubbed her eyes as though in doubt of the accuracy of her vision; they grew wide and bright with astonishment and wonder, and she gave a little, breathless gasp as she ran forward to the table and looked down at the mound of wealth.
And then, convinced that her senses had not played her a trick, her face whitened, she drew a long breath, and turned to Sanderson, grasping the lapels of his coat and holding them tightly.
"Sanderson," she said in an awed voice, "what have you done? Where did you get that money?"
He told her, and her eyes dilated. "What a reckless thing to do!" she said. "They might have killed you!"
"Maison was havin' thoughts the other way round," he grinned. "He was mighty glad I didn't make him pay for the men he killed."
"They'll be after you—they'll kill you for that!" she told him.
"Shucks," he laughed. He showed her the document written and signed by Maison, and attested by Judge Graney:
This is to certify that I have tonight paid to Deal Sanderson the sum of ninety thousand dollars for three thousand head of cattle received to my full satisfaction.
"There ain't no comeback to that!" exulted Sanderson. "Now we'll start buildin' that dam. Mebbe, though," he added, grinning at her, "if you knew where a mighty hungry man could find a good cook that would be willin' to rustle some grub, there'd be——"
She laughed. "Right away!" she said, and went outside to perform her ablutions.