Gilroy was
on the threshold in his shirtsleeves. A single look showed him that
Clarence was alone, and with a careless gesture of his hand he warned
away his own followers.
"You've got a sort of easy way of droppin' in whar you ain't invited,
Brant," he said with a grim smile, which was not, however, without a
certain air of approval. "Got it from your father, didn't you?"
"I don't know, but I don't believe HE ever thought it necessary to warn
twenty men of the approach of ONE," replied Clarence, in the same tone.
"I had no time to stand on ceremony, for I have just come from Hooker's
quarter section at Fair Plains."
Gilroy smiled again, and gazed abstractedly at the sky.
"You know as well as I do," said Clarence, controlling his voice with
an effort, "that what you have done there will have to be undone, if you
wish to hold even those lawless men of yours together, or keep yourself
and them from being run into the brush like highwaymen. I've no fear for
that. Neither do I care to know what was your motive in doing it; but I
can only tell you that if it was retaliation, I alone was and still am
responsible for Hooker's action at the rancho. I came here to know just
what you have done with him, and, if necessary, to take his place."
"You're just a little too previous in your talk, I reckon, Brant,"
returned Gilroy lazily, "and as to legality, I reckon we stand on the
same level with yourself, just here.
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