"Consider the aspersions cast. What are you going to do about it?"
"He calls," chuckled Garman; "show your cards."
"I shall——"
"Hm," interrupted Garman, and the Senator obediently hesitated.
"I shall not state here and now what means I shall utilize in meeting, as befits it, this defiance of our sacred Government. Nor shall I continue any communication or intercourse, or any association whatsoever, with the party or parties guilty of such defiance."
"I reckon this young feller has tooted his horn long enough," drawled the deputy sheriff. "Roger Payne, I——"
Roger turned his back deliberately and went down the stairs.
"Here! Come back here!"
Roger was walking across the lawn, bound for the path that led to his camp. He heard the click of a revolver being cocked on the verandah, but he did not look up.
"Oh, put that thing up, you ass!" said Garman disgustedly. "And go back to Flora City and draw your time—Payne, you're a big, bold buck. There's only one bigger in the country; and you and I are going to have a lot of fun before we're many days older."