“You bet I will,” he said, “this is getting monotonous. She took a shot at me, once before.”
“Oh, Wiley!” wailed the Widow suddenly weakening in the pinch. “You know I never meant it!”
“Well, maybe not,” replied Wiley evenly, “but you hit me in the leg.”
“But hepulled off my gun!” charged the Widow angrily, “I never went to do it!”
“Well, come on;” said the deputy, “you can explain to the judge.” And he took her by the arm. She went out, sobbing violently, and in the succeeding silence Wiley found himself confronted by Virginia. He had seen her before when the wild light of battle shot forth from her angry eyes but now there was a glow of soft, feminine reproach and the faintest suggestion of appeal.
“Oh, Wiley Holman!” she cried, “I’ll never forgive you! What do you mean by treating Mother like this?”
“I mean,” replied Wiley, “that I’ve taken about enough, and now we’ll leave it to the law. If your mother is right the judge will let her go, but I guess it’s come to a showdown.”
149“What? Are you going to let them put my mother in jail?” she asked with tremulous awe, and then she burst into tears. “You ought to be ashamed!” she broke out impetuously. “I wish my father was here!”
“Yes, so do I,” answered Wiley gravely. “I’d be dealing with a gentleman, then. But if your mother thinks, just because she is a woman, she can run amuck with a gun, then she gives up all right to be treated like a lady and she has to take what’s coming to her.”
“But Wiley!” she appealed, “just let her off this time and she’ll never do it again. She’s over-wrought and nervous and─”