Rimrock stopped and looked down. Then he picked up his hat and made another false start for the door.
"Yes, Mrs. Hardesty—she came in last night. That lady that wore the tiger skin."
"Oh!" said Mary and something in her voice seemed to stab him in the back as he fled.
"Say, what do you mean?" he demanded, coming angrily back, "you speak like something was wrong. Can't a man look twice at some other woman without your saying: 'Oh!' I want you to understand that this Mrs. Hardesty is just as good as you are. And what's more, by grab, she's got stock in our Company and we ought to be treating her nice. Yes, she bought it from Stoddard; and if I could just pull her over——
"How much stock?" asked Mary, reaching suddenly for a book, and Rimrock fidgeted and turned red.
"Two thousand shares!" he said defiantly. "She's got as much as you have."
"Oh!" murmured Mary as she ran through the book, and Rimrock flew into a fury.
"Now for the love of Mike!" he cried, striding towards her, "don't always be pulling that book! I know you know where every share is, and just who transferred it to who, but this Mrs. Hardesty has told me she's got it and that ought to be enough!"
"Why, certainly!" agreed Mary, instantly closing the book. "I just didn't recall the name. Is she waiting for you now? Then don't let me detain you. I'll be starting East to-night."
Rimrock rocked on his feet in impotent anger as he groped for a fitting retort.