seemed　unlikely　that　she　had　passed　by　this　cabin。
  Resolutely　she　faced　the　gale　and　knew　she　had　a　task　to　find　that　refuge。　If　there　had　been　a　big　rock　or　bushy　cedar　to　offer　shelter　she　would　have　welcomed　it。　But　there　was　nothing。　When　the　hard　dusty　gusts　hit　her；　she　found　it　absolutely　necessary　to　shut　her　eyes。　At　intervals　less　windy　she　opened　them；　and　rode　on；　peering　through　the　yellow　gloom　for　the　cabin。　Thus　she　got　her　eyes　full　of　dustan　alkali　dust　that　made　them　sting　and　smart。　The　fiercer　puffs　of　wind　carried　pebbles　large　enough　to　hurt　severely。　Then　the　dust　clogged　her　nose　and　sand　got　between　her　teeth。　Added　to　these　annoyances　was　a　heat　like　a　blast　from　a　furnace。　Carley　perspired　freely　and　that　caked　the　dust　on　her　face。　She　rode　on；　gradually　growing　more　uncomfortable　and　miserable。　Yet　even　then　she　did　not　utterly　lose　a　sort　of　thrilling　zest　in　being　thrown　upon　her　own　responsibility。　She　could　hate　an　obstacle；　yet　feel　something　of　pride　in　holding　her　own　against　it。
  Another　mile　of　buffeting　this　increasing　gale　so　exhausted　Carley　and　wrought　upon　her　nerves　that　she　became　nearly　panic…stricken。　It　grew　harder　and　harder　not　to　turn　back。　At　last　she　was　about　to　give　up　when　right　at　hand　through　the　flying　dust　she　espied　the　cabin。　Riding　behind　it；　she　dismounted　and　tied　the　mustang　to　a　post。　Then　she　ran　around　to　the　door　and　entered。
  What　a　welcome　refuge！　She　was　all　right　now；　and　when　Glenn　came　along　she　would　have　added　to　her　already　considerable　list　another　feat　for　which　he　would　commend　her。　With　aid　of　her　handkerchief；　and　the　tears　that　flowed　so　copiously；　Carley　presently　freed　her　eyes　of　the　blinding　dust。　But　when　she　essayed　to　remove　it　from　her　face　she　discovered　she　would　need　a　towel　and　soap　and　hot　water。
  The　cabin　appeared　to　be　enveloped　in　a　soft；　swishing；　hollow　sound。　It　seeped　and　rustled。　Then　the　sound　lulled；　only　to　rise　again。　Carley　went　to　the　door；　relieved　and　glad　to　see　that　the　duststorm　was　blowing　by。　The　great　sky…high　pall　of　yellow　had　moved　on　to　the　north。　Puffs　of　dust　were　whipping　along　the　road；　but　no　longer　in　one　continuous　cloud。　In　the　west；　low　down　the　sun　was　sinking；　a　dull　magenta　in　hue；　quite　weird　and　remarkable。
  〃I　knew　I'd　get　the　jolt　all　right；〃　soliloquized　Carley；　wearily；　as　she　walked　to　a　rude　couch　of　poles　and　sat　down　upon　it。　She　had　begun　to　cool　off。　And　there；　feeling　dirty　and　tired；　and　slowly　wearing　to　the　old　depression；　she　composed　herself　to　wait。
  Suddenly　she　heard　the　clip…clop　of　hoofs。　〃There！　that's　Glenn；〃　she　cried；　gladly；　and　rising；　she　ran　to　the　door。
  She　saw　a　big　bay　horse　bearing　a　burly　rider。　He　discovered　her　at　the　same　instant；　and　pulled　his　horse。
  〃Ho！　Ho！　if　it　ain't　Pretty　Eyes！〃　he　called　out；　in　gay；　coarse　voice。
  Carley　recognized　the　voice；　and　then　the　epithet；　before　her　sight　established　the　man　as　Haze　Ruff。　A　singular　stultifying　shock　passed　over　her。
  〃Wal；　by　all　thet's　lucky！〃　he　said；　dismounting。　〃I　knowed　we'd　meet　some　day。　I　can't　say　I　just　laid　fer　you；　but　I　kept　my　eyes　open。〃
  Manifestly　he　knew　she　was　alone；　for　he　did　not　glance　into　the　cabin。
  〃I'm　waiting　forGlenn；〃　she　said；　with　lips　she　tried　to　make　stiff。
  〃Shore　I　reckoned　thet；〃　he　replied；　genially。　〃But　he　won't　be　along　yet　awhile。〃
  He　spoke　with　a　cheerful　inflection　of　tone；　as　if　the　fact　designated　was　one　that　would　please　her；　and　his　swarthy；　seamy　face　expanded　into　a　good…humored；　meaning　smile。　Then　without　any　particular　rudeness　he　pushed　her　back　from　the　door；　into　the　cabin；　and　stepped　across　the　threshold。
  〃How　dareyou！〃　cried　Carley。　A　hot　anger　that　stirred　in　her　seemed　to　be　beaten　down　and　smothered　by　a　cold　shaking　internal　commotion；　threatening　collapse。　This　man　loomed　over　her；　huge；　somehow　monstrous　in　his　brawny　uncouth　presence。　And　his　knowing　smile；　and　the　hard；　glinting　twinkle　of　his　light　eyes；　devilishly　intelligent　and　keen；　in　no　wise　lessened　the　sheer　brutal　force　of　him　physically。　Sight　of　his　bulk　was　enough　to　terrorize　Carley。
  〃Me！　Aw；　I'm　a　darin'　hombre　an'　a　devil　with　the　wimmin；〃　he　said；　with　a　guffaw。
  Carley　could　not　collect　her　wits。　The　instant　of　his　pushing　her　back　into　the　cabin　and　following　her　had　shocked　her　and　almost　paralyzed　her　will。　If　she　saw　him　now　any　the　less　fearful　she　could　not　so　quickly　rally　her　reason　to　any　advantage。
  〃Let　me　out　of　here；〃　she　demanded。
  〃Nope。　I'm　a…goin'　to　make　a　little　love　to　you；〃　he　said；　and　he　reached　for　her　with　great　hairy　hands。
  Carley　saw　in　them　the　strength　that　had　so　easily　swung　the　sheep。　She　saw；　too；　that　they　were　dirty；　greasy　hands。　And　they　made　her　flesh　creep。
  〃Glenn　will　killyou；〃　she　panted。
  〃What　fer？〃　he　queried；　in　real　or　pretended　surprise。　〃Aw；　I　know　wimmin。　You'll　never　tell　him。〃
  〃Yes；　I　will。〃
  〃Wal；　mebbe。　I　reckon　you're　lyin'；　Pretty　Eyes；〃　he　replied；　with　a　grin。　〃Anyhow；　I'll　take　a　chance。〃
  〃I　tell　youhe'll　kill　you；〃　repeated　Carley；　backing　away　until　her　weak　knees　came　against　the　couch。
  〃What　fer；　I　ask　you？〃　he　demanded。
  〃For　thisthis　insult。〃
  〃Huh！　I'd　like　to　know　who's　insulted　you。　Can't　a　man　take　an　invitation　to　kiss　an'　hug　a　girlwithout　insultin'　her？〃
  〃Invitation！　。　。　。　Are　you　crazy？〃　queried　Carley；　bewildered。
  〃Nope；　I'm　not　crazy；　an'　I　shore　said　invitation　。　。　。　。　I　meant　thet　white　shimmy　dress　you　wore　the　night　of　Flo's　party。　Thet's　my　invitation　to　get　a　little　fresh　with　you；　Pretty　Eyes！〃
  Carley　could　only　stare　at　him。　His　words　seemed　to　have　some　peculiar；　unanswerable　power。
  〃Wal；　if　it　wasn't　an　invitation；　what　was　it？〃　he　asked；　with　another　step　that　brought　him　within　reach　of　her。　He　waited　for　her　answer；　which　was　not　forthcoming。
  〃Wal；　you're　gettin'　kinda　pale　around　the　gills；〃　he　went　on；　derisively。　〃I　reckoned　you　was　a　real　sport。　。　。　。　Come　here。〃
  He　fastened　one　of　his　great　hands　in　the　front　of　her　coat　and　gave　her　a　pull。　So　powerful　was　it　that　Carley　came　hard　against　him；　almost　knocking　her　breathless。　There　he　held　her　a　moment　and　then　put　his　other　arm　round　her。　It　seemed　to　crush　both　breath　and　sense　out　of　her。　Suddenly　limp；　she　sank　strengthless。　She　seemed　reeling　in　darkness。　Then　she　felt　herself　thrust　away　from　him　with　violence。　She　sank　on　the　couch　and　her　head　and　shoulders　struck　the　wall。
  〃Say；　if　you're　a…goin'　to　keel　over　like　thet　I　pass；〃　declared　Ruff；　in　disgust。　〃Can't　you　Eastern　wimmin　stand　nothin？〃
  Carley's　eyes　opened　and　beheld　this　man　in　an　attitude　of　supremely　derisive　protest。
  〃You　look　like　a　sick　kitten；〃　he　added。　〃When　I　get　me　a　sweetheart　or　wife　I　want　her　to　be　a　wild　cat。〃
  His　scorn　and　repudiation　of　her　gave　Carley　intense　relief。　She　sat　up　and　endeavored　to　collect　her　shattered　nerves。　Ruff　gazed　down　at　her　with　great　disapproval　and　even　disappointment。
  〃Say；　did　you　have　some　fool　idee　I　was　a…goin'　to　kill　you？〃　he　queried；　gruffly。
  〃I'm　afraidI　did；〃　faltered　Carley。　Her　relief　was　a　release；　it　was　so　strange　that　it　was　gratefulness。
  〃Wal；　I　reckon　I　wouldn't　have　hurt　you。　None　of　these　flop…over　Janes　for　me！　。　。　。　An'　I'll　give　you　a　hunch；　Pretty　Eyes。　You　might　have　run　acrost　a　fellar　thet　was　no　gentleman！〃
  Of　all　the　amazing　statements　that　had　ever　been　made　to　Carley；　this　one　seemed　the　most　remarkable。
  〃What　'd　you　wear　thet　onnatural　white　dress　fer？〃　he　demanded；　as　if　he　had　a　right　to　be　her　judge。
  〃Unnatural？〃　echoed　Carley。
  〃Shore。　Thet's　what　I　said。　Any　woman's　dress　without　top　or　bottom　is　onnatural。　It's　not　right。　Why；　you　looked　likelike〃here　he　floundered　for　adequate　expression〃like　one　of　the　devil's　angels。　An'　I　want　to　hear　why　you　wore　it。〃
  〃For　the　same　reason　I'd　wear　any　dress；〃　she　felt　forced　to　reply。
  〃Pretty　Eyes；　thet's　a　lie。　An'　you　know　it's　a　lie。　You　wore　thet　white　dress　to　knock　the　daylights　out　of　men。　Only　you　ain't　honest　enough　to　say　so　。　。　。　。　Even　me　or　my　kind！　Even　us；　who　're　dirt　under　your　little　feet。　But　all　the　same　we're　men；　an'　mebbe　better　men　than　you　think。　If　you　had　to　put　that　dress　on；　why　didn't　you　stay　in　your　room？　Naw；　you　had　to　come　down　an'　strut　around　an'　show　off　your　beauty。　An'　I　ask　you　if　you're　a　nice　girl　like　Flo　Hutterwhat　'd　you　wear　it　fer？〃
  Carley　not　only　was　mute；　she　felt　rise　and　burn　in　her　a　singular　shame　and　surprise。
  〃I'm　only　a　sheep　dipper；〃　went　on　Ruff；　〃but　I　ain't　no　fool。　A　fellar　doesn't　have　to　live　East　an'　wear　swell　clothes　to　have　sense。　Mebbe　you'll　learn　thet　the　West　is　bigger'n　you　think。　A　man's　a　man　East　or　West。　But　if　your　Eastern　men　stand　for　such　dresses　as　thet　white　one　they'd　do　well　to　come　out　West　awhile；　like　your　lover；　Glenn　Kilbourne。　I've　been　rustlin'　round　here　ten　years；　an'　I　never　before　seen　a　dress　like　yoursan'　I　never　heerd　of　a　girl　bein'　insulted；　either。　Mebbe　you　think　I　insulted　you。　Wal；　I　didn't。　Fer　I　reckon　nothin'　could　insult　you　in　thet　dress。　。　。　。　An'　my　last　hunch　is　this；　Pretty　Eyes。　You're　not　what　a　hombre　like　me　calls　either　square　or　game。　Adios。〃
  His　bulky　figure　darkened　the　doorway；　passed　out；　and　th