“No.”
“Say, we’re sailing an uncharted sea, and––there’s a fog.”
It was a reluctant nod Jim received in reply.
“We’ll have to ask her,” he went on. “She can’t marry us both. Maybe she’ll marry neither.”
“That’s so.” Jim failed to observe Will’s smile of confidence. “Yes, we’ll both ask her. I’ve got to go through Barnriff on my way to the hills. I’ll call and see her. You can ride in this evening.”
Jim shook his head.
“Guess that’s an elegant plan––for you.”
Quick as a flash Will turned on him. His volcanic anger rose swiftly.
“What d’you mean?”
“Just what I say.” Jim’s response seemed to have less friendliness in it. Then he knocked his pipe out, and rose from his seat. “No, boy,” he said. “We’ll just play the game right here. We’ll take a chance for who goes to her first. If she wants neither of us––well, we’ll have played the game by each other, anyway. And 24 if she chooses either of us then the other must take his medicine like a man. Let’s––be sportsmen.”