She
heard him cross the veranda and, pass into the house.
Then again she took up the thread of her thought. This man Sikkem. If
he were one of the Orrville gang, what was more likely than that he
should have sent that threat? If he sent it, what more likely than
that he was one of the gang of rustlers operating here? If he were one
of them, then what added significance did it give threat?
A wave of sudden excitement replaced the panic of a moment before.
"The only way we know." Did that mean raiding her husband's stock and
endeavoring so to ruin the Obar? It looked like it. It would account
for what was being done. But no. That might be part of what was
contained in the threat. But not all. The only way we know! The only
way this class of man understood paying off a score was different from
that. With these men it was always a life for a life. Whose? Hers?
It might be.
The sun had sunk beyond the mountain peaks. In the adjoining
living-room she heard the clatter of supper things. Jeff was having
his meal in the solitude which had become their habit.
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