“If I could swear,” she said, “I’d tell you where to go, and what I thought you were. You may consider yourself told as it is.”
Arnold became coldly grave.
“You refuse?”
“What do you think I do? Put your wits in order!”
The man turned and struck a bell which stood on a rosewood pedestal. Minnie Pine responded with suspicious promptness.
“Send me Provine and Big Basford,” said Arnold briefly, and the girl departed.
The man did not speak again, nor did Nance.
Kate Cathrew sat still in her luxurious chair, her baleful black eyes traveling over the girl from head to foot with bitter interest.
There came a shuffle and rattle of spur and the two Sky Line riders stood in the doorway of the room beyond, having come through the kitchen.
“Miss Allison,” said Arnold, “I own the men of Sky Line, how or why is unimportant. What I tell them to do, they do. Am I not right, men?”