"God bless you for saying that! It won't be pleasant with Matthews here----"
"But you must go. Never mind about Matthews."
"I cannot go without being satisfied that you and Marylyn will be safe. The Colonel said----"
"The Colonel," she interrupted. Then, half resentfully, "Did the women folk send any word?"
He was mildly surprised. "N-n-no," he answered, "they didn't, but----"
"Well, dad'll never leave this quarter," she said decisively, "if _that's_ what the Colonel wants."
The evangelist shook his head. "'Thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house,'" he quoted sadly. "Now, if you come to the Fort to live----"
"Hardly that, with the backing you have. The boys at the post would never see Matthews take your home. Believe me, as long as you and your father care to live here, you can. Public opinion over there"--he pointed to Brannon--"is strong in your favour. And there is Lounsbury, too. Why, that man is helpless."
"So you will lose nothing by coming to the Fort," he persisted, "while you may save a great deal--your lives!"
"Dad will never go to the Fort. He hates 'em like poison."
"Yes--yes--he's foolish and stiffnecked. For such is punishment meted out. See!" The ox-team was travelling toward them, prodded by the driver.
"Then, go to Bismarck," urged David Bond, finally. "Stay there until the autumn."
From a hind pocket he slowly brought forth a narrow buckskin pouch, tied with a thong. He opened it, and emptied a handful of coins upon a palm. "This is only a little," he said apologetically. "But it will help. And--you must think first of your safety."
"I can't take it," she said, her voice all gentleness. "Even if I did--what about next winter? I must stay and raise things. Don't you see?"
"At Bismarck you would have a double market, Dallas. There is Fort Lincoln, and the town."
"I'd--I'd have to plow new ground," she went on. "And--we'd have to build again, and dig another well----"
Suddenly she lowered her voice and stepped nearer. "That's just the reason dad wouldn't go there," she said. "We'd be close to town. We'd have to meet folks. Here, he keeps away from the Fort, and you, and Mr. Lounsbury--everyone but Charley."
"Oh--oh--oh," breathed the evangelist, helplessly.