"I reckon I
can't make you understand that it's my game," he said coldly. "Walk
backwards when you go in," he directed; "I don't want to plug you in
the back."
Dade started and looked intently at Calumet. "You mean that it ain't
ended between you an' him?" he demanded.
"Some people would have tumbled to that long ago," jeered Calumet.
"But kids--kids take longer to _sabe_ a thing. I'm glad you're over
it," he added. He sheathed his pistol. "I reckon we'll be goin'," he
said. "Betty'll begin to believe I'm lost."
Dade followed him to the wagon, meekly enough now that he had received
unmistakable proof that Taggart was Calumet's "game," and shortly
afterward the wagon pulled out of Lazette and struck the trail toward
the Lazy Y.
CHAPTER XI
PROGRESS
Calumet had some thoughts on the subject but they were all inchoate and
unsatisfying. He got only one conclusion out of them--that for some
mysterious reason he had surrendered to Betty and was going to work to
repair the ranchhouse.
On the morning following his visit to Lazette he sat on a piece of
heavy timber which he and Dade had lifted a few minutes before to some
saw-horses preparatory to framing. Armed with a scratch awl and a
square Dade was at the other end of the timber, his hat shoved back
from his forehead while he ran his fingers through his hair as though
pondering some weighty problem.
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