There was a concerted rush for the outer air, leaving the Overlanders to attend to Lum Bangs, who was now almost wholly restored to consciousness. Julie Thompson was standing back a little from the group about him, gazing at Lum, a heavy frown on her forehead. Grace nodded and smiled to the girl.
"Don't worry, Julie. He will be all right in a few moments," soothed the Overland girl.
"I ain't worryin' fer the likes o' him," she replied, elevating her chin and turning her back on her escort.
The Overland girls looked at each other inquiringly.
"Ah hearn somethin' 'bout ye to-night, Lum Bangs, that ye don't know as Ah does know," she said, whirling suddenly on him.
"You-all ain't goin' back on me, are yuh, Julie?" begged Lum.
"Naw. Ah ain't goin' back on ye, cause Ah already has. Ah don't want nothin' more t' do with ye. Understand?"
The mountaineer's face reddened.
"Who shot me?" he demanded, sitting up suddenly and feeling for his weapon.
"You needn't look at me that way," objected Hippy. "I didn't shoot you. I punched you, that's all. Some one on the outside of the building fired the shot that hit you. I—"