"I ain't seed him since he an' Lou had that turn-up what near laid 'em both out. It was a awful fight, Danny said!" Suse came to Maiden's side; her hands on her broad hips, her plain kindly face something envious. "Chaps say as they fought about you, Maid- en," she said.
Maiden's head went up, and the scarlet flamed to her ear-tips.
"What give him the right to fight 'bout me, I'd like ter know!"
"Which is he?"
Maiden wheeled to the wmdow, confused. Then the red ran to her forehead, and Suse be- hind her gnmted in sudden disapproving. For Lou passed on his way to the ranges where the mustering had cut half the Mains boys from their kind for a full fortnight. He pulled under the window with a quick swerve.
"Good-bye for five days, Maiden," he called; then swayed to the mare's impatient bound, and tore up the street, leaving the swift flash of laughing eyes and bared fair head, and a sudden silence to the two in the room.
"I'd sooner hev Steve than Lou Birot," said Suse, with meaning.
"You don't want either, do you? You've got Danny."
Suse bit her lip. Then she tried again.
