“I don’t care!” wailed the Widow. “I hope he dies. I wish I’d killed him–I do!”
“You do not!” returned Virginia, and shook her reprovingly. “I declare, I wonder what poor father would think if he heard how we’d treated a guest. Now you go back to the house and don’t you come out again until Mr. Holman sends for you.”
“You shut up!” burst out the Widow, pushing her brusquely aside. “I guess I know what I’m about. But I’ll fool you,” she cried, whirling about 56on Wiley as she started towards the door. “I’ll sell my stock to Blount!”
She paused for the effect but Wiley did not answer and she returned to pursue her advantage.
“I know you!” she announced. “You and old Honest John–you’re trying to steal my mine. But I’m going to fool you, I’m going right down to Vegas and sell every share to Blount!”
“Well, go to it,” returned Wiley after a long, defiant silence, “and I hope you stick him a-plenty!”
“Why, what’s the matter?” inquired the Widow, brushing Virginia away again and swaggering up to his bed. “I thought you and Blount were good friends.”
“Yeh, guess again,” replied Wiley grimly. “I’ll tell him the mine shows up fine.”
“Well, it does!” she asserted. “The Colonel said it wasn’t scratched. And didn’t you steal that piece of quartz from Virginia? Oh, you gave it back, eh? Well, how did it assay? I know you found somethingpretty good!”
“How could I give it back, if I’d had it assayed?” asked Wiley with compelling calm.