"That cured me," he said. "After this, here's the only law I know."
He tapped his pistol and leaned back in his chair, smiling grimly as she gazed at him, aghast.
"Yes, I know," he went on, "it don't sound very good, but it's that or lay down to McBain. The judges are no better—they're just promoted lawyers——"
He checked himself for she had risen from her chair and her eyes were no longer scared.
"Excuse me," she said, "my father was a judge." And Rimrock reached for his hat.
"Whereabouts?" he asked, groping for a chance to square himself.
"Oh—back East," she said evasively, and Rimrock heaved a sigh of relief.
"Aw, that's different," he answered. "I was just talking about the Territory. Well, say, I'll be moving along."
He rose quickly, but as he started for the door a rifle-cartridge fell from his torn pocket. It rolled in a circle and as he stooped swiftly to catch it the bullet came out like a cork and let spill a thin yellow line.
"What's that?" she asked as he dropped to his knees; and he answered briefly: