"The ranch queen? I don't know about that," smiled Old Broadbrim.
"Wait and see."
And with this the girl looked away, her face paling in the light and her lips compressed.
In another moment the detective was walking from the scene of his encounter with Stareyes.
He was known to her.
She was a strange creature and her revenge had turned her head.
He knew that he was in more danger than ever, for the girl in her eagerness to get the best of Merle and Belle Demona would be likely to precipitate matters and unmask him.
If she were out of the way all would be well, but she was now in his path and the storm was on the eve of breaking out.
Back to the ranch house went the detective.
He came face to face with the ranch queen on the porch of vines and her voice greeted him.