"Well, what the hell——"
"They all know that some man used your girl roughly. That's all I said to him — 'keep an eye on Eve until we can get back.' And I tell you, Mike, if we drive Star Peak we won't be back till long after sundown."
Clinch growled: "I ain't never asked no favours of no State Trooper——"
"He did you a favour, didn't he? He brought your daughter in."
"Yes, 'n' he'd jail us all if he got anything on us."
"Yes; and he'll shoot to kill if any of Quintana's people come here and try to break in."
Clinch grunted, peeled off his coat and got into a leather vest bristling with cartridge loops.
Trooper Stormont came into the back door, carrying his rifle.
"Some rough fellow been bothering your little daughter, Clinch?" he inquired. "The child was nearly all in when she met me out by Owl Marsh — clothes half torn off her back, bare-foot and bleeding. She's a plucky youngster. I'll say so, Clinch. If you think the fellow may come here to annoy her I'll keep an eye on her till you return."
Clinch went up to Stormont, put his powerful hands on the young fellow's shoulders.