With all his strength of will he battled back the first
mad impulse to throttle the man, to crush him into shapeless pulp. For
one awful moment his mind became a chaos, his blood throbbing fire. To
kill would be joy, a relief inexpressible. Farnham realized the
impulse, and drew back, not shrinking away, but bracing for the
contest. But the engineer gripped himself in time.
"Hayes," he ejaculated hoarsely, "let the lady decide this. If she
says no, then, by God, I 'll fight you all single-handed before he ever
puts touch upon her!"
Old Bill Hicks was beside him in a single stride, his face blazing.
"I 'm damned if yer will!" he growled madly. "I 'm in on this deal,
law er no law. The whole blame thing is a bluff, an' I 'll not stan'
fer it no longer. Yer step back thar, Sam Hayes, er else Gulpin County
will be lookin' 'round fer another sheriff. I 've got plumb ter the
limit o' patience in this game."
Winston grasped the old man's uplifted arm, whirling him sharply around.
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