But even then she heard not his warning, but silently, tremulously listened to Sonora, who shouted through the door: “Say, Girl, you all right?” And not until her answering voice had called back her assurance that she was safe did she turn to the man at her side and whisper in a voice that showed plainly her agitation and fear:
“Jack Rance is there! If he was to see you here—he’s that jealous I’d be afraid—” She checked her words and quickly put her ear close to the door, the voices outside having become louder and more distinct. Presently she spun round on her heel and announced excitedly: “Ashby’s there, too!” And again she put her ear to the door.
“Ashby!” The exclamation fell from Johnson’s lips before he was aware of it. It was impossible to deceive himself any longer—the posse had tracked him!
“We want to come in, Girl!” suddenly rang out from the well-known voice of Nick.
“But you can’t come in!” shouted back the Girl above the noise of the storm; then, taking advantage of a particularly loud howl of the blast, she turned to Johnson and inquired: “What will I say? What reason will I give?”
Serious as was Johnson’s predicament, he could not suppress a smile. In a surprisedly calm voice he told her to say that she had gone to bed.
The Girl’s eyes flooded with admiration.
“Why, o’ course—that’s it,” she said, and turned back to the door and called through it: “I’ve gone to bed, Nick! I’m in bed now!”
The barkeeper’s answer was lost in another loud howl of the blast. Soon afterwards, however, the Girl made out that Nick was endeavouring to convey to her a warning of some kind.
“You say you’ve come to warn me?” she cried.