Blanche laughed softly.
“Oh, you boys,” she said. “You’re all so—so wise, and strong, and brave, and big. But you’re just big foolish kids when it comes to—women. The only chance I’ve taken is that Jim’s no fool. And I don’t guess he’s that way.”
The red head turned quickly and looked down into the fact that was laughing up at him.
“But you know Lightning’s not there,” Larry said. “You know as well as we do he’s gone after that miserable skunk. You know as well as that kid does he’ll kill him sure. Why not let me get out to pass him a hand, and you keep Jim and Molly right here? Say, there isn’t sense in the thing you’ve fixed. There surely isn’t.”
“Isn’t there?” Blanche sighed happily. She raised a hand to her shoulder and clasped it about the muscular fist she found there. “Of course I know all those things, Larry,” she went on. “All those things are so. It’s man’s way, so it’s Lightning’s. Molly’s right. He’ll never leave McFardell alive. He’ll follow him and kill him.” The man felt her shudder, for all the calmness with which she spoke. “Maybe I’m all wrong. Maybe I’m callous and wicked. But I’m not interested in anything but Jim’s happiness—Jim’s and Molly’s. Molly’s fallen for Jim. I know. You see, another woman can see these things. Well, to-morrow’s Jim’s opportunity. On the way down, before she sees for herself that—— Oh, psha! anything might happen. She’s impulsive. Lightning! If she thought he needed her help, good-bye everything else. Jim must fix things on the way down. And I’m wicked enough, vicious enough, to hope that Andy McFardell comes by his deserts.”
Blanche felt the squeeze of the man’s hand.
“There’s nothing wicked to you, Blanche,” he said. “I’m with you that McFardell gets his med’cine good an’ plenty. But say, kid,” he cried eagerly, “you’ll let me pass a hand to Lightning? I want him to kill that skunk. I do so. It’s queer. I got this place in my bones.” He laughed boyishly. “I just hate it I’m the only feller around this outfit that doesn’t need to worry in the daylight.”
Blanche’s laugh came low and full of humour. She glanced up at him slily.
“Oh, Larry,” she cried, “you are—you certainly are a crazy—— And what about me? Do you reckon I’m going to marry you to be toted along on the run from justice?”
The man remained quite undisturbed by the threat. His arm tightened about the girl’s slim body and his eyes lit mischievously.