"And the rest of us with you," said King. "If Miss Gaynor cares to talk things over with Gratton——"
Gloria put out her hand impulsively, touching King's arm.
"You stay. Please. Until—he goes."
King inclined his head gravely, not realizing that his body stiffened under her light touch.
"What about me?" demanded the "judge" sharply. "Am I needed or ain't
I?"
"I'd say not this evening," King's dry voice answered him. "Good-night to you."
"That's a fine way to treat a man," cried Summerling truculently. "Here I ride all this way in the dark, and without stoppin' for so much as supper; here I ain't had a bite to eat since dinner-time, and it's good-night and get out! And that hundred dollars I was to get so fast, how about that? Think I'm the man to let folks trample on me and——"
"Maybe Jim will give you a hand-out at his cabin," King told him. "As for your money, get it out of Gratton if he promised it to you—or," he added with a flash of heat, "take it out of his hide, for all I care."
"Wait for me outside, Summerling," muttered Gratton. "I haven't said you won't be needed, have I?"
"Just the same, I wouldn't mind takin' what's comin' to me now——"