"Shake my boy!" Jase held out a large brown paw. "So am I. If I could 'a' had my way your pap never would a been killed."
Ralph hesitated an instant, when suddenly little Clelly reached forth his small, chubby fingers, and the boy surrendered. He suffered Vaughn to shake his hand, then frankly took the child's and pressed it warmly.
"I like 'oo," cried the little fellow, whereat Jase gave a great horse laugh of undisguised satisfaction.
"These young uns has got more sense than all of us older fools," exclaimed the gratified father. "Ain't that so, old man?" he added, looking at the elder Granger.
But the face of Ralph's grandfather became convulsed with a sudden fury. He rushed upon Ralph with a celerity unlocked for in one so old, and wrenched the rifle from the boy's hands.
Then he turned upon Jase Vaughn who had witnessed this action in astonishment.
"Now," shouted old Granger, "reckon I'll get even for the loss of my son. Here's at ye!"
"Grandpa!" cried Ralph, springing between the old man and his intended victim. "You shall not shoot, I say!"
"Out of my way, you renegade," retorted the other leveling his gun.
As the cap snapped, Ralph struck up the barrel, and was rewarded by a furious imprecation from the aged but relentless relative.