"I admire the lady's choice," said Buck, sneering ironically.
"——until I braced up an' was a man again," went on Texas, with bull-dog persistency.
"Then you wasn't thinkin' of gettin' married soon," slurred Buck.
"I reckon we was," returned Texas coldly; "that's why I came here. I'm goin' to take that five thousand back to Socorro with me!"
And now Buck used his right hand. But quick as he was, he was late. Rankin's gun gaped at him across the table the while his own weapon lagged tardily half-way in its holster.
"I'm goin' to be a man again," said Texas. There was a positiveness in his voice that awoke thoughts of death and violence.
"You damn——" began Buck.
"I'll count ten," said Texas frigidly. "If the money ain't on the table then I reckon you won't care what becomes of it!"
"One!—Two!"
With a snarl of rage and hate Buck rose from his chair and sprang clear, his gun flashing to a level with the movement, its savage roar shattering the silence.