"Oughtn't you stay with the horses while I make the arrangements?"
Microby shook her head in vigorous protest. "They-all hain't a-goin' nowheres less'n they has to. An' I want to go 'long."
A thick-set man, collarless and coatless, who tilted back in his chair with his feet upon the window ledge, glanced up indifferently as they entered and crossed to the desk, and returned his gaze to the window, beyond which objects showed dimly in the gathering darkness. After a moment of awkward silence Patty addressed him. "Is the proprietor anywhere about?"
"I'm him," grunted the man, without looking around.
The girl's face flushed angrily. "I want a room and supper for two."
"Is there another hotel in this town?" she flashed angrily.
"Do you mean to say that there is no place where we can get accommodation for the night?"
"Can't we get anything to eat, either?" It was with difficulty Patty concealed her rage at the man's insolence. "If you knew how hungry we are--we've been driving since daylight with only a cold lunch for food." She did not add that the cold lunch had been so unappetizing she had not touched it.
"Supper's over a couple hours, an' the help's gone out."
"I'll pay you well if you can only manage to get us something--we're starved." The girl's rage increased as she noticed the gleam that lighted the heavy eyes. That, evidently was what he had been waiting for.
"I'm full up, I told you. The only way might be to pay someone to double up. An' with these here cowpunchers that comes high. I might--" The opening of the screen door drew all eyes toward the man who entered and stood just within the room. As Patty glanced at the soft-brimmed hat, the brilliant scarf, and noticed that the yellow lamplight glinted upon the tip of polished buffalo horn, and the ivory butt of the revolver, her lips tightened. But the man was not looking at her--seemed hardly aware of her presence. The burly proprietor smiled.
"Hello, Vil. Somethin' I kin do fer you?"
"Yes," answered the man. He spoke quietly, but there was that in his voice that caused the other to glance at him sharply. "You can stand up."
The man complied without taking his eyes from the cowboy's face.
"I happened to be goin' by an' thought I'd stop an' see if I could take the team over to the livery barn for my--neighbors, yonder. The door bein' open, I couldn't help hearin' what you said." He paused, and the proprietor grinned.