Keith frowned a little.
"Never mind about me. Do you propose to marry her? She, at least, does not keep a dance-hall."
"No; I shall leave that for you." His face and tone were insolent, and Keith gripped his chair. He felt himself flush. Then his blood surged back; but he controlled himself and put by the insolence for the moment.
"Leave me out of the matter. Do you know what you are doing?" His voice was a little unsteady.
"I know at least what you are doing: interfering in my business. I know how to take care of myself, and I don't need your assistance."
"I was not thinking of you, but of her--"
"That's the difference between us. I was," said Ferdy, coolly. He rolled a cigarette.
"Well, you will have need to think of yourself if you wrong that girl," said Keith. "For I tell you now that if anything were to happen to her, your life would not be worth a button in these mountains."
"There are other places besides the mountains," observed Wickersham. But Keith noticed that he had paled a little and his voice had lost some of its assurance.
"I don't believe the world would be big enough to hide you. I know two men who would kill you on sight."