“Be still, daughter; it’s best,” said Mallory.
“Neither she, nor you, nor Doane, nor all of you together can talk me out of it!” roared Eagen. “It was a frame-up!”
In the deadly stillness that followed, Laura Mallory shrank back from the sight of two gunmen looking steadily into each other’s eyes, their hands ready for the lightning draw––each waiting for the merest suggestion of the beginning of a move on the part of the other to get his weapon into action. But the draws did not come. The pregnant silence was broken by the thundering roll of many horses galloping into the yard about the house.
“There!” yelled Eagen in a voice of triumph. “There’s your sweet little posse, Coyote!”
“I expected to see Bob Long when I came down here!” said Rathburn coolly, looking at Laura Mallory for the first time.
CHAPTER XXXVII
THE TEST OF A MAN
Several men stamped across the porch to the jingle of spur chains. Others broke in through the back door and entered the kitchen. Sheriff Bob Long appeared at the door, with two guns leveled.